不同人對“洗禮”有不同看法和解釋。以下的短文讓《聖經》自己說明洗禮到底是怎麼一回事——洗禮是多麼重要的事情，洗禮又是意義非常深刻的真理。
一。耶穌的吩咐：“耶穌進前來，對他們說：‘天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。所以你們要去，使萬民做我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗，凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守。我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了’” （馬太福音28:18-20）。世世代代的基督徒都要傳福音給世人聽，教導他們成為基督徒。成為基督徒的過程包括受洗。
二。耶穌的榜樣：耶穌自己受了洗，留下了好榜樣給我們。請參閱（馬太福音4:13-17）。
三。與耶穌埋葬復活：“ 你們既受洗與他一同埋葬，也就在此與他一同復活，都因信那叫他從死里復活神的功用” （歌羅西書2:12）。“你們”就是基督徒；他們已受洗了。“與他一同埋葬…一同復活”：受洗時與耶穌同埋同復活。“都因信那叫他從死里復活神…”：如果不相信神，不相信耶穌的復活，受洗毫無用處。“…神的功用”：洗禮本身沒有能力；洗禮的水也沒有力量。但是因為神在其中所以洗禮這件事情才能夠做到神所答應和應許的——讓神的恩典臨到身上。
四。歸入耶穌：“豈不知我們這受洗歸入基督耶穌的人，是受洗歸入他的死嗎？所以，我們藉著洗禮歸入死，和他一同埋葬…”（羅馬書6:3-4a）。《聖經》的“洗禮”是指一個人在成為基督徒時要“受洗”與耶穌基督一同埋葬，一同復活（參看羅馬書6:3-7）。就如耶穌被釘十字架以後，他葬在墳墓里，第三天復活了一樣，成為基督徒的那位，也被“埋”在水裡，又“復活”。洗禮具有戲劇性；信徒把耶穌的埋葬和復活演變在水裡面。藉着洗禮我們也“接觸”到耶穌的死亡、復活和他死亡和復活所帶給相信和順服者的應許。
五。披戴耶穌：“你們因信基督耶穌，都是神的兒子。你們受洗歸入基督的，都是披戴基督了”（加拉太書3:26-27）。“披戴基督”的意思是把耶穌穿上如穿上衣服一樣。穿上軍服的就是軍人；穿上耶穌的就是基督徒——由受洗開始。
六。求告主名：“現在你為什麼耽延呢？起來，求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪！” （使徒行傳22:16）。如何“求告主的名”呢？禱告嗎？悔改嗎？承認過犯和罪呢？這些事情都很好；相信耶穌的人都應該認罪、悔改、禱告，但是此經文告知我們“求告主的名”的方法是“受洗”。
七。叫罪得赦：彼得說： “你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈”（使徒行傳2:38）。使徒彼得吩咐聽眾兩件事情，就是： 1）悔改， 2）受洗。悔改的定義包括懊悔罪孽、過失、錯誤等，也包括改變心意和行為。受洗有兩個結果，就是： 1）罪得到赦免， 2）聖靈開始居住心裡。
八。拯救你們：“這水所表明的洗禮，現在藉着耶穌基督復活也拯救你們；這洗禮本不在乎除掉肉體的污穢，只求在神面前有無虧的良心” （彼得前書3:21）。洗禮不是洗澡；洗禮的目的不是洗掉身體的骯髒，乃是洗掉內心的罪！ 相信神的人受洗時，在此他請求神用耶穌的寶血給他“無虧的良心”。彼得還說“洗禮…也拯救你們…”——不是因為水有拯救的能力，乃是因為耶穌的血有神的恩典在內。
九。與他一同埋葬…一同復活：“洗禮”的原文就是希臘文 βαπτιζω（baptizo）——就是浸水的意思。在第一世紀時，基督徒都是用 βαπτιζω（baptizo）——浸水。那時因為“洗禮”都是投入水中，所以只有受浸、施浸、浸禮的說法。全身被“埋”在水中才合乎希臘原文的意義，也合乎羅馬書六章和歌羅西書二章所描述的——與耶穌一同埋葬。
從以上的經文可知洗禮是一件非常重要的事情。相信耶穌為基督為個人的救主的人應該受洗。以上的經文告訴我們受洗（浸禮）： 1）是耶穌命令的； 2）是耶穌留下榜樣給我們的；3）是我們與耶穌一同埋葬，一同復活之時；4）是神用耶穌的寶血拯救我們之時；5）是我們歸入耶穌之時；6）是我們披戴耶穌之時； 7）是我們求告主名之時； 8）是我們的罪得到赦免之時； 9）是神拯救我們之時。
請問，現在您還等什麼呢？快一點受洗吧！
[[[ ⇒ 請參閱別的跟洗禮（浸禮）有關的經文：馬可福音1:4；約翰福音1:31；3:5，3:23；使徒行傳8:12，8:36-38；9:18；10:24，10:47-48；16:15，16:33；18:8；19:5；以弗所書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.