Acts 19:1-6 shows that Christian baptism took over after John’s earlier preparatory baptism ended. This Christian baptism is what Jesus commanded in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). As the New Testament unfolds, we learn more about this baptism. It is immersion for those who believe the Gospel and repent (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-39; 10:37). Though in water, it is not merely an outward bath, but rather the conscience’s appeal to God based on Christ’s resurrection.
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21).
Baptism appeals to God through Christ’s resurrection.
Elaborating on this theme, Paul explains baptism as burial and resurrection with Christ through faith (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). Biblical baptism’s result, then, is the new and forgiven life in Christ (John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:12).
Many people dislike this purpose because it involves the human body. Greek and Gnostic thinking has influenced the Western mind. Much of Western theology tends to dictate a strict divorce: faith alone saves, and the body cannot cooperate in receiving salvation. Therefore, they invoke the thief, arguing, “Look, he was saved by his request alone, without baptism. Therefore, we are saved in the same way.” The same way? Not so, for the thief’s faith lacked elements that the Lord later revealed as essential for us today. At his place in time, the thief was not positioned for proper faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Likewise, he was not positioned for proper baptism into that death, burial and resurrection. No believer was in such a position at that time. For Jesus had not yet died. He had not yet been buried. He had not yet risen. Nor had He formally commissioned Christian baptism!