Those who support immersion baptism claim that such a baptism is an act of obedience and is an external evidence of the internal changes a believer experiences in his heart through his faith in Christ. This is not totally correct. It is true and acceptable that a new born believer will rejoice over his new experience. It is not only an act and sign of obedience to the commandment of the Lord Jesus, it also brings new blessings. It also prepares us for a higher experience and deeper spiritual life. Let us see below the benefits of the New Testament Baptism.

1. It is one of the essential steps for entry into the Kingdom of God.

The Immersion baptism which Christ calls ‘birth’ is an essential step to enter the Kingdom of God. “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

2. We die to our sinful nature while we are immersed.

Even though after a person is born again he may not be delivered from his sinful nature i.e. Adam’s sinful nature. David said, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). He is not delivered from the natural sins like disobedience and rebellion which David points out. Paul points out the natural sinfulness which is in every man in Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…”

Paul who had received the deep truth about baptism from God compares it with the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea. When we see the depth of the hidden truth we may be amazed. “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the Sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (I Corinthians 10:1, 2).

The Israelites had already been delivered from Egypt by the blood of the passover Lamb (Exodus 12:27). But in addition they needed a second deliverance from the army of the Pharaoh which pursued them (Exodus 14: 9, 10).

God performed a great miracle to bring the Israelites out of Egypt on the day when the passover Lamb was slaughtered. Yet He had to perform an equally amazing miracle again. This time it was not for delivering them from Egypt but for delivering them from the pursuing Egyptian army. Moses told them, “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the Salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever” (Exodus 14:13). God promised a second deliverance which took place in the Red sea. That salvation destroyed the Egyptians completely and brought total deliverance to the Israelites.

Similarly, a believer who is born again is actually experiencing deliverance from the control of sin (Spiritually from Egypt, he is delivered) through the blood of Jesus Christ, The Lamb that was slain on the Cross. But through baptism he begins to experience another miraculous deliverance of salvation from the sinful nature which is warring within himself like the continuously pursuing Egyptian army. That sinful nature has been fighting with him. It is like that of the pursuing Egyptian army that followed the Israelites. So there is another phase of deliverance for everyone who is born again which is attained though baptism. Therefore in Baptism there is another salvation which has to be experienced. That’s why Jesus said in Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”.

When Peter explains the secret of salvation present in baptism, he compares it to the experience of the eight people who were saved during Noah’s flood. God saved Noah and his family from the same flood which was sent to destroy the sinners. That’s why Peter says with great conviction “The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21). This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3. Baptism is a preparatory step towards receiving the anointment of the Holy Spirit.

Removal of sinful nature is necessary to receive the Holy Spirit. The reason is quite obvious. ‘Holy Spirit is given not just to dwell in us but to guide us into all truth, and totally purify and teach us to do His perfect will. Thus Holy Spirit comes to discipline us in this manner (John 16:13; Roman 8:13, 14; I Peter 1:2). The Holy Spirit cannot do the work of sanctification where there is rebellion and disobedience. Either the sinful nature should govern us or the Holy Spirit should rule us. Those who are delivered from sinful nature through baptism, will be guided by the Holy Spirit and prepared in spirit, soul and body to receive the Holy Spirit so that they can walk as people with ‘New life’ of the risen Christ. That’s why Peter said that they must repent and be baptized so that they can receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

4. The sanctification through the word of God begins in baptism.

Adam’s sinful nature characterized by disobedience and rebellion is totally against the will of God. We read about this rebellious sinful nature that is opposing the will of God in Paul’s words in Romans 7: 22, 23. “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members”. Though Paul desired to delight in God’s law and His word, in opposition to his inner desire, Adam’s sinful nature that was in him fought against His inner desire brought failure in his life.

While we receive baptism in obedience to God’s commands, we make ineffective and cancel the act of disobedience of Adam the first man which started in the Garden of Eden. Through him we had inherited his character of disobedience in our life. However through the baptism which is an experience of taking part in Christ death we take part in the will of Christ who perfectly fulfilled God’s will. While we are baptized and take part in Christ death, we become part of the will and obedience of Christ who fulfilled God’s will.

That’s why Paul says in Hebrews 10:10 “By that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Christ once for all”. The Will of Christ to perfectly obey the will of God has become our nature in water baptism, when Jesus said “I have come…to do your will, O God”. The obedience of Christ who said that “I have come…to do your will, O God”, becomes our nature too when we are baptized. After the baptism we receive the grace to love the word of God that reveals God’s will. Then after the word of God starts to sanctify us.

5. A strong foundation for a victorious life is established in baptism.

Though we are freed from the control of sin through repentance and delivered from rebellious sinful nature through water baptism it is not a victorious life. Baptism takes us to a place where we realize that it is completely possible to lead a victorious life through the power of the Holy Spirit. God was not satisfied with just bringing the Israelites out of Egypt and delivering them from the Egyptian army that followed them. He tested and strengthened them step by step and shaped them into a strong army so that they could fight with the nations in Canaan and occupy the Promised Land Canaan by defeating them. To make them inherit the Promised Land was His plan. With the Love of God that’s shed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we should overcome all the tests and trials and should reach Zion or New Jerusalem the greatest inheritance of heaven. We are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us (Romans 8:37). “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

6. Baptism is an important step for the body to resurrect (to transfigure) at the time when church is raptured.

“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His Death, we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection” (Romans 6:5). In the original Greek script we don’t find the phrase “the likeness” with the words “His resurrection”. In the original Greek script it is written “If we have been united with him in the likeness of His Death, we shall also be united in His Resurrection”. This confirms that God approves of the fact that baptism is helpful in our burial. Baptism is like a seal which authenticates our resurrection in the second coming of Jesus Christ.