This Is Not That: Baptism

Celebration. Not Transaction.

We’ve made a big deal out of baptism. And for good reason. It’s a picture of dying and rising—a celebration of life.

But somewhere along the way, we stopped treating it as a celebration and started treating it as a transaction. Like a magic key that unlocks God’s approval. As if the water does what Jesus didn’t already do.

That’s not the story the Bible tells.

In the beginning, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2). Water was never a wall between us and God—it was a sign of the life He was bringing.

When Jesus steps into the Jordan River, He’s not performing a ritual to become holy. He’s stepping into our story.

When John the Baptist hesitated—“I should be baptized by You!”—Jesus said, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

In other words: Let’s do this so everyone can see what’s already true—that I’m one with them, and they’re one with Me.

Jesus’ Baptism Was Ours Too

That’s the heart of it: Jesus didn’t come to show us how to become one with God; He came because we already were.

The mystery Paul later names is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). And again, “In Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

That means there’s never been a moment when you—or creation itself—existed outside of Him.

So when Jesus went down into the water, He took all of creation with Him.
When He came up, so did we. His baptism, like His death and resurrection, was ours (Romans 6:4–5).

It was heaven’s way of saying, This is who you’ve always been—My beloved.

Therefore, our baptism isn’t making something true; it’s awakening to what’s been true all along.

When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens tore open. The Spirit descended like a dove. And the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16–17).

That wasn’t just about Jesus—it was about you.

Because the same Spirit that rested on Him rests on you (Romans 8:11). And the same voice that called Him beloved calls you the same (1 John 3:1).

Baptism doesn’t create that truth. It announces it.

Celebrating What’s Already True

Paul says, “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3).

It’s not a formula—it’s a reminder.

We were buried with Him, yes. But we were also raised with Him. And here’s the kicker: Paul says this about everyone.

“All died in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Which means the whole world has already been included in that death and resurrection.

In short: baptism doesn’t start the story—it celebrates it.

That’s why Peter could stand up after Pentecost and shout, “Be baptized, every one of you!” (Acts 2:38). Not so that they could finally belong, but because they already did.

The Spirit had been poured out on all flesh (Acts 2:17), and Peter wanted them to know it. Baptism was their chance to join the celebration—to name out loud the life that had already named them.

And sure, if you keep reading that verse, you find where some translations use the phrase—“for the remission of sins.” But the Greek word there, eis, means because of or in light of.

So Peter isn’t saying “be baptized so you’ll be forgiven.” That would contradict all that Jesus taught and John’s words: “your sins have been forgiven on account of his name” (1 John 2:12). Instead, Peter is saying “be baptized because you already are.”

In short, baptism isn’t the condition for grace—it’s the celebration of it.

Wherever There’s Water

Even Jesus points to this when He says, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

That phrase “in the name” means into the reality of. It’s not an initiation ceremony. It’s a welcome into what’s always been true: you already live and move and have your being in God (Acts 17:28).

And Mark’s Gospel puts it simply: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).

Not because the water performs the saving, but because it reveals what belief has already discovered—union.

This is why the early followers of Jesus didn’t wait for a class, a certificate, or a church service. They baptized one another wherever there was water—rivers, lakes, wells, even roadside puddles.

It was that simple. A friend finds life in Jesus, another friend says, “Let’s celebrate,” and down they both go.

Wherever water was, grace found a way to use it.

Think about the Ethiopian official in Acts 8. He hears the good news from Philip and shouts, “Look! Water! What’s stopping me from being baptized?”

Nothing. Because baptism isn’t about earning—it’s about enjoying. It’s the exhale of grace.

Or think about a kid at the beach, racing into the waves, laughing and dunking under. There’s no fear there. Just joy.

That’s baptism—letting love wash over you because you finally stopped trying to stay dry.

Or maybe it’s like walking through a thunderstorm after years of drought. You can’t control it; you just stand there and soak it in.

The water doesn’t make the sky generous. It just reveals it always was.

The Fire and the Water

So if you’ve been baptized—beautiful. If you haven’t—beautiful still. The water doesn’t make you belong. It just shows you do.

Like a wedding ring doesn’t make you married, baptism doesn’t make you God’s. It’s a sign of the covenant that’s already real.

God didn’t wait for your permission to make peace with you.
He did that in Jesus (Colossians 1:20).
And Jesus didn’t wait for you to come find Him.
He came looking for you (Luke 19:10).

Baptism is the moment we stop pretending we’re separate and say what’s always been true: “I’m home.”

Which means, in the end, the invitation to baptism isn’t about joining a religion.
It’s about joining the party.

Every knee will bow, every tongue confess (Philippians 2:10–11), because everyone will finally see it:
The love that fills Jesus fills us all.
The water just helps us remember.

The same fire that purifies also fills the water that welcomes.
The same love that burns away illusion now whispers, “Come on in.”
Because the fire and the water say the same thing:
You are mine.
You’ve always been.
Now let’s celebrate.