Christian baptism represents “the request made to God for a good conscience.” (1 Peter 3:21) It symbolizes that an individual has wholly dedicated himself to God to serve Him as a disciple of Jesus.
Complete immersion in water is an appropriate symbol of such a dedication. A person’s going under the water represents his dying to his former life course. Being raised out
of the water symbolizes his being made alive to do God’s will.
God grants a good conscience to those who make such a dedication and are baptized. The inspired apostle Peter could thus tell fellow believers: “[Baptism] is also now saving you.” That is something
that no amount of Jewish ritual bathing could ever achieve.
Your dedication and baptism are the beginning of a very close friendship with God, an intimate relationship with him. Psalm 25:14.
Baptism does not guarantee salvation. The apostle Paul wrote: “Keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) Baptism is only a beginning.
The Bible gives a number of reasons to be baptized:
Well, now you have it—the what, when and why. The only question left to ask is, “what will I do now?” That is between you and God.