Baptism is the Seal of obedience to Christ
Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus commanded baptism, and the believer submits to it as a step of obedience. As this can be compared with circumcision in the old testament

Circumcision is the seal of the old testament
But as for an uncircumcised male, one who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” –Genesis 17:14

Baptism is the seal of the new testament
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16

Baptism Represents

1. Baptism is a picture of the gospel
With baptism one is in union the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

2. Baptism shows the believer’s identification with Christ.
It is symbolic of the believer’s death with Christ and of his resurrection to new life in Christ. Romans 6:3-4.

3. Baptism is a public testimony of a follower of Christ
This will serves as testimony that I have believed in Christ and that I intend to live a new life in Christ.

4. A decision of be a disciple of Christ.
Each baptism in the New Testament was an event that was witnessed by other people, who stand as the witness to the person who has made a decision to become a disciple of Jesus

How to conduct baptism

Baptism is from the Greek work baptizo meaning “to dip”, “plunge”, “immerse” or “overwhelm”. The most common
definition is “immerse“.

In the old testament
The worshipers has to wash themselves before entering the temple as method of cleansing themselves from sins.
Exodus 30:21
They shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come. Compare 1 Peter 3:20-21

The New Testament
Men and women were immersed in water for remission of sins.

Who has the authority to baptize?
The New Testament church has the authority to baptize. It is the Lord’s chosen institution for this age, and it is the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Every baptism in the book of Acts was conducted by a preacher.

Five Reasons to support Baptism by immersion
1.This is the meaning of the word. The term baptize means to immerse or to dip.
2.This was the manner in which Jesus was baptized. He came “up out of the water” (Mark 1:10).
3.This is the example of the early Christians. In Acts 8:38-39 the preacher and the candidate “went down both into the water” and “came up out of the water.”
4.This is the only mode that fits the biblical meaning of the practice. as burial and resurrection with Christ. Romans 6:4.5.
5.Immersion was the only mode of baptism in the churches for many centuries.

What follows after Baptism?

When one submits to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
by immersion, he or she receives great blessings from God.
The following things happen in the spiritual realm of his or her spiritual regeneration:
A. One walks in newness of life (Rm 6:4).
B. One becomes a new creature (2 Co 5:17).
C. One appeals to God with a good conscience (1 Pt 3:21).
D. One puts on Christ (Gl 3:27).
E. One becomes an obedient subject of Christ (Jn 3:3-5).
F. One becomes a part “of Christ” (1 Co 1:12,13).
G. One comes into a relationship with Christ (Rm 6:3; Gl 3:26,27).

One comes into Christ where he or she receives the following:

1. All spiritual blessings (Ep 1:3)
2. Redemption by Jesus’ blood (Ep 1:7; Cl 1:14)
3. Forgiveness of sins (Ep 1:7)
4. Sanctification from sin (1 Co 1:2; 1 Jn 1:7)
5. No condemnation (Rm 8:1)
6. A new creation in Christ (2 Co 5:17)
7. Eternal life with Jesus (1 Jn 5:11)
8. Salvation for eternal life (2 Tm 2:10; At 4:12; 1 Pt 3:2

Now you have believed

1. Faith, repentance and confession are unto salvation. -Acts 2:47
2. However, immersion is into Christ where there is salvation. -Romans 10:9,10; 2 Corinthians 7:10
3. Men are redeemed by the sacrificial blood of Jesus. – 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 3:21
4. However, this redemption by the blood is in Christ. – Acts 20:28; Revelation 5:9
5. One must be immersed into Christ. -Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14
6. Jesus sanctified the church by His blood. – Galatians 3:27
7. He continues to sanctify the faithful. -Hebrews 13:12; Revelation 7:14
8. Only the sanctified, therefore, are in the body of Christ. -1 John 1:7
9. In order to be sanctified by the blood of Jesus, one must be immersed into the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:2;6:11
10. If one has been immersed for the wrong reasons, he should be immersed again for the right reasons.1 Corinthians 12:13, 32. Acts 19:1-6

The thing that follows baptism is Christian service and holy living (Acts 2:41-42). The individual that takes baptism is testifying that he has died to the old life and that he is going to follow Christ as the Lord of his or her life. It is a very serious and solemn practice. The Christians in the first church at Jerusalem “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”