We believe the scripture shows through out the book of Acts during the time of the early church men and women being baptized after first hearing the good news about Jesus Christ.
They would hear the message put their faith in Christ and then be baptized. The scriptures also speak of the converts coming up out of the water which shows us that they were more than likely completely submerged if at all possible. Along with the scriptural pictures of the early church the Greek word baptismo was used when women would dye clothes and so saturate them that they may be fully and completely changed in color. Baptism by water is therefore not what takes away our sins but what follows the wonderful event of being born again. Baptism symbolizes a person dying with Christ being buried and then being resurrected to walk in a brand new life. Scripture references about this subject:
- Matthew 3:1-17 (Jesus was baptized)
- Acts 16:13-15 (Lydia baptized after responding to the good news about Jesus)
- Acts 16:29-33 (Jailer and family baptized after being saved through believing in Jesus)
- Acts 8:26-40 (Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch)