The Imagery of Baptism

The action of baptism is a common action: uncleanness washed away with water. A boy coming inside for dinner after a summer day needs a thorough scrubbing with clean water. To remove dirt and grime, you need some water.

Indeed, this common use of water for washing is the primary imagery which Scripture teaches us to think of when we think about baptism. Sin defiled and contaminated every aspect of man; heart, soul, mind, and body. The entire arc of the redemption story leads to the truth that the filthy, black stains of sin were to be washed away by the crimson blood of Christ. Man was entirely defiled. So, a potent cleansing agent must be used in order to make us entirely clean. This cleansing is found in Christ alone. Cleansing of the whole man is something only the Living Water can effect. Baptism is the promise of that cleansing.

So welcome our brother to Jesus Christ…