When baptism is accompanied by a true repentance from sin and a sincere desire to follow Jesus Christ it will not be merely a symbolic act, but will bring:

(a) Forgiveness and Cleansing

On the day of Pentecost Peter tells people to repent and be baptised for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38). Paul is told to be baptised and wash away his sins (Acts 22:16).

In the context of baptism Paul talks about forgiveness of transgressions and cancelling the debt of broken decrees and ordinances (Col 2:13,14).

Peter speaks of baptism as an appeal to God for a good conscience (1 Pet 3:21 NASB). {Other ways of rendering this verse are discussed in the Appendix}

(b) Death to Sin and a New LIfe

In baptism we are identified with the death and resurrection of Christ. As surely as Christ once died to sin and now lives to God we should do the same.

We need to continue to grow into a knowledge and experience of his death.

Sin is no longer our master. We should present ourselves to God to be His tools. We have been made alive together with Christ.

(Rom 6:1-14 passim {see section on Dead to Sin - Alive to God}, Col 2:12-13)

(c) Salvation

Baptism is so closely linked with salvation in the New Testament that Peter writes 'baptism now saves you' (1 Pet 3:21).

The accounts of the Philippian jailor (Acts 16:31-34), the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:34-38), and the 3000 on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) clearly show people being converted and baptised on the same day.

(d) Unity with Other Christians

By the action of the Holy Spirit all true Christians have been baptised into one body [the church] (1 Cor 12:13). Admittedly this may not refer to their baptism in water.

Whilst exhorting the church at Ephesus to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Paul says there is .... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, .... (Eph 4:3-6) ie the unity of our experience of baptism as well as other aspects of the faith remind us that we are meant to be one in Christ Jesus. {Eph 4:5 is discussed further under Some Difficulties: One Baptism}

Whilst exhorting the church at Corinth to all agree, that there be no divisions among them, and to be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgement Paul points out that they were not baptised in his name - the implication being that they were all baptised into Christ (1 Cor 1:13-17).

Whilst exhorting the churches in Galatia against class distinctions (Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female) Paul says 'For all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ' (Gal 3:27,28). There is no place in the church for such distinctions, we are all one in Christ Jesus.

(e) Clothed with Christ

The verb enduw {enduo} is used for putting on the inner garment citwn {chiton}. It is also used for putting on the new man (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10). So, those who have been baptised have been clothed with Christ (Gal 3:27) i.e. they have put on His character. An inner change has taken place in them.