Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 12/5/2006

Question
What is the history and origin of baptism?
What are the symbolisms use in baptism?

Answer
Glenn,
Thank you for your questions. I will try to give you a breif overview of Christian baptism.

Christian baptism has its origins with the Jewish ritual of mikvah. Mikvah (or mikveh) is a "ritual bath" used for immersion in a purification ceremony within Judaism. Its main use nowadays is by Jewish women to achieve ritual purity after menstruation or childbirth, by Jewish men to achieve ritual purity during daytime on the eve of Yom Kippur, as part of a traditional conversion to Judaism, and (in some cases) for utensils used for eating and cooking.

The word baptize derives from the Greek word which means "to dip, bathe, or wash". Biblical water baptism is by full immersion into water. Baptism is subsequent to conversion and not a saving ordinance, but an outward sign of an inward work. Baptism is not optional for the believer, but a command of our Lord to be obeyed.

Baptism is a public rite, in testimony to others of the grace of God bestowed upon the person, and as a seal of God's promises in Christ to those who believe.

It symbolizes the fact that the cleansing (remission) of sins have taken place in the Believer, and the union of the Believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, and that the Believer has become one of Christ's faithful. Water Baptism is an ordinance, a symbolic ritual used to witness having accepted Christ as personal Savior.

Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Acts 2:38 ; Acts 16:30 -33

Please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.
Elder Greg Madden