不同人对“洗礼”有不同看法和解释。以下的短文让《圣经》自己说明洗礼到底是怎么一回事——洗礼是多么重要的事情，洗礼又是意义非常深刻的真理。
一。耶稣的吩咐：“耶稣进前来，对他们说：‘天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。所以你们要去，使万民做我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗，凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守。我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了’” （马太福音28:18-20）。世世代代的基督徒都要传福音给世人听，教导他们成为基督徒。成为基督徒的过程包括受洗。
二。耶稣的榜样：耶稣自己受了洗，留下了好榜样给我们。请参阅（马太福音4:13-17）。
三。与耶稣埋葬复活：“ 你们既受洗与他一同埋葬，也就在此与他一同复活，都因信那叫他从死里复活神的功用” （歌罗西书2:12）。“你们”就是基督徒；他们已受洗了。“与他一同埋葬…一同复活”：受洗时与耶稣同埋同复活。“都因信那叫他从死里复活神…”：如果不相信神，不相信耶稣的复活，受洗毫无用处。“…神的功用”：洗礼本身没有能力；洗礼的水也没有力量。但是因为神在其中所以洗礼这件事情才能够做到神所答应和应许的——让神的恩典临到身上。
四。归入耶稣：“岂不知我们这受洗归入基督耶稣的人，是受洗归入他的死吗？所以，我们借着洗礼归入死，和他一同埋葬…”（罗马书6:3-4a）。《圣经》的“洗礼”是指一个人在成为基督徒时要“受洗”与耶稣基督一同埋葬，一同复活（参看罗马书6:3-7）。就如耶稣被钉十字架以后，他葬在坟墓里，第三天复活了一样，成为基督徒的那位，也被“埋”在水里，又“复活”。洗礼具有戏剧性；信徒把耶稣的埋葬和复活演变在水里面。藉着洗礼我们也“接触”到耶稣的死亡、复活和他死亡和复活所带给相信和顺服者的应许。
五。披戴耶稣：“你们因信基督耶稣，都是神的儿子。你们受洗归入基督的，都是披戴基督了”（加拉太书3:26-27）。“披戴基督”的意思是把耶稣穿上如穿上衣服一样。穿上军服的就是军人；穿上耶稣的就是基督徒——由受洗开始。
六。求告主名：“现在你为什么耽延呢？起来，求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪！” （使徒行传22:16）。如何“求告主的名”呢？祷告吗？悔改吗？承认过犯和罪呢？这些事情都很好；相信耶稣的人都应该认罪、悔改、祷告，但是此经文告知我们“求告主的名”的方法是“受洗”。
七。叫罪得赦：彼得说： “你们各人要悔改，奉耶稣基督的名受洗，叫你们的罪得赦，就必领受所赐的圣灵”（使徒行传2:38）。使徒彼得吩咐听众两件事情，就是： 1）悔改， 2）受洗。悔改的定义包括懊悔罪孽、过失、错误等，也包括改变心意和行为。受洗有两个结果，就是： 1）罪得到赦免， 2）圣灵开始居住心里。
八。拯救你们：“这水所表明的洗礼，现在藉着耶稣基督复活也拯救你们；这洗礼本不在乎除掉肉体的污秽，只求在神面前有无亏的良心” （彼得前书3:21）。洗礼不是洗澡；洗礼的目的不是洗掉身体的肮脏，乃是洗掉内心的罪！ 相信神的人受洗时，在此他请求神用耶稣的宝血给他“无亏的良心”。彼得还说“洗礼…也拯救你们…”——不是因为水有拯救的能力，乃是因为耶稣的血有神的恩典在内。
九。与他一同埋葬…一同复活：“洗礼”的原文就是希腊文 βαπτιζω（baptizo）——就是浸水的意思。在第一世纪时，基督徒都是用 βαπτιζω（baptizo）——浸水。那时因为“洗礼”都是投入水中，所以只有受浸、施浸、浸礼的说法。全身被“埋”在水中才合乎希腊原文的意义，也合乎罗马书六章和歌罗西书二章所描述的——与耶稣一同埋葬。
从以上的经文可知洗礼是一件非常重要的事情。相信耶稣为基督为个人的救主的人应该受洗。以上的经文告诉我们受洗（浸礼）： 1）是耶稣命令的； 2）是耶稣留下榜样给我们的；3）是我们与耶稣一同埋葬，一同复活之时；4）是神用耶稣的宝血拯救我们之时；5）是我们归入耶稣之时；6）是我们披戴耶稣之时； 7）是我们求告主名之时； 8）是我们的罪得到赦免之时； 9）是神拯救我们之时。
请问，现在您还等什么呢？快一点受洗吧！
[[[ ⇒ 请参阅别的跟洗礼（浸礼）有关的经文：马可福音1:4；约翰福音1:31；3:5，3:23；使徒行传8:12，8:36-38；9:18；10:24，10:47-48；16:15，16:33；18:8；19:5；以弗所书4:5。]]]
What is Christian Baptism?
In this article we allow the Bible itself to explain the meaning and importance of Christian baptism.
1) Jesus commanded baptism: “…baptizing them…,” (Matthew 28:18-20). Part of the process of becoming a Christian is being baptized.
2) Jesus was the example: Jesus himself was baptized and thus left an example for us. See Matthew 4:13-17.
3) Burial and resurrection: “having been buried with him in baptism, and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). “You” are Christians; they had been baptized. “Buried with him… and raised” means that when we are baptized we are buried with Jesus and raised with Jesus. “Through your faith in… God who raised him…” means that if we do not believe in God and we do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus, baptism is useless. “…the power of God” indicates that while baptism within itself is powerless as is the water of baptism, but because God is present in and works through these, baptism does exactly what God promises—brings God’s grace comes to us.
4) Into Christ: “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried with him through baptism into death…” (Romans 6:3-4a). According to the Bible, when one becomes a Christian he is baptized; in baptism one is buried with Jesus Christ and is resurrected (Romans 6:3-7). Our baptism is an enactment of what happened to Jesus after he was crucified; he was buried and he was resurrected. In baptism we come into contact with the death and resurrection of Jesus and with all the promises given to those who believe and obey him.
5) Clothed with Jesus: “You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). He who wears a military uniform is a soldier; he who wears Jesus is a Christian—beginning when he is baptized.
6) Call on the name of the Lord: “And now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). How does one “call on the name of the Lord”? Through prayer? Or by repentance? By admitting sin? All of these things are good, but this verse tells us that one “calls on the name of the Lord” by being baptized.
7) For the forgiveness of sins: Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Peter told the people to do two things: 1-to repent, and 2-to be baptized. Repentance includes regretting wrong doing, whether in one’s heart or in one’s life. Baptism produces two results: 1-sins are forgiven, and 2-the Holy Spirit begins to reside in one’s heart.
8) Saves you: “and this water now symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism is not a bath; its purpose is not to remove filth from the body but to wash away sin from the heart! In baptism, a person asks God to use the blood of Jesus and give him a “good conscience.” Peter also says that “baptism… saves you”—not because water has the power to save but because the grace of God flows through the blood of Jesus.
9) Buried with him… and raised: Baptism in the original Greek language is βαπτιζω (baptizo), and it means to be immersed. In the first century all Christians used βαπτιζω (baptizo) and thus they were immersed—just like Romans six and Colossians two describe. Immersion was the only form of baptism they knew.
From the foregoing Scriptures, we know that baptism is a very important subject. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ and is his personal Savior should be baptized. These Scriptures teach us the following about baptism (immersion): 1) Baptism was commanded by Jesus; 2) Jesus was baptized; 3) Baptism is the time when we are buried and resurrected with Jesus; 4) It is the moment when God uses the blood of Jesus to save us; 5) It is the time when we enter Jesus; 6) We are clothed with Jesus when we are baptized; 7) It is the way we call on the name of the Lord; 8) It is the moment when our sins are forgiven; 9) It is the time when God saves us.
What are you waiting for? Be baptized!
See also: Mark 1;4; John 1:31; 3:5, 3:23; Acts 8:12, 8:36-38; 9:18; 10:24, 10:47-48; 16:15, 16:33; 18:8; 19:5; Ephesians 4:5.