According to Strongs Concordance Baptize is defined in as follows.
Baptizo. Not to be confused with bapto. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution, but the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change.
When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g. Mark 16:16. 'He that believes and is baptised shall be saved'. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle!
Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.
Baptism is the outward physical act of what happened inside of you, that is, death, burial and resurrection
Matthew 28:19 says, “Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This literally means to immerse into the name of, the character of God Himself.
If you were put into a pool of water and died from suffocation, and then were born again with the life of God in you that would be a good example of what happened to you in the spirit realm. This is why Jesus wants us baptized; in order to show to the world, the demons, our flesh and body and mind what actually happened to us in the spirit realm. The actual act of going into the water and coming out really does not do anything for you, except gives you an opportunity to obey God.
Baptism does give you salvation.
It is an act of obedience to take you on to further salvation. Salvation does not just mean the initial born again experience. Salvation or being saved, is from a Greek word that means to be delivered from danger and made whole. After our initial salvation experience, we need to move on to further “being made whole”, or salvation. The first act of obedience that opens the door for more with God is baptism. It is very important, but not vital to our going to Heaven.
He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
Paul talked about our having been baptized with Christ when we were born again. Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Colossians 2:12 says, “buried with Him in baptism, in whom also you were raised through the faith of the working of God, raising Him from the dead.”
Jesus was baptized. He had no sin but this was a sign that we was going to identify and absorb our sin.
Matthew 3:13-17 says, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him. But John restrained Him, saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’ And answering Jesus said to him, ‘Allow it now, for it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him. And Jesus, when He had been baptized, went up immediately out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. And lo, a voice from Heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
Jesus spoke about His crucifixion as another one of His baptisms. (Matthew 20:22) But Jesus answered and said, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They said to Him, We are able.
Some argue about being sprinkled or about being dunked. It is not worth arguing about! All I can say is that in Muslim countries when people come to the Lord, the ones that are baptized by being immersed into water are the ones who are killed and persecuted.
You do not need to be baptized by some special religious or spiritual person. A friend baptized me in a backyard swimming pool. I have baptized some of my children in a river.
John spoke about the baptism in the Holy Sprit as another type of baptism. Luke 3:16 says, “John answered all, saying, I indeed baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I comes, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to loose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
This baptism is covered in another lesson.
ISOB Discipleship Training Manual. Larry Chkoreff (WALK) ( Baptism)
This lesson is the sole property of ISOB. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this lesson must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1999 by ISOB."). This lesson may not be used without the permission of ISOB for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold.