Baptism is an important experience for the Christian.

It is important because of our obedience to Christ:

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” It’s as simple as that - when we love Jesus Christ we want to do what He says. Jesus himself was totally obedient to the Father, and to fulfill all righteousness was baptized. The disciples were baptized. The early church was baptized. In Peter’s first sermon after Pentecost, he preached saying, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ”. Acts 2:38

Obedience to Jesus Christ is a privilege, a joy, and also a duty. It is not important whether we think baptism is insignificant or not absolutely necessary. The point is: Jesus Christ commanded us to be baptized!

It is important because of our testimony to others:

Baptism is a testimony of our conversion to Jesus Christ. The biblical examples of baptism always demonstrate belief in Jesus Christ, then baptism as an outward testimony of that fact. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8,9); therefore, baptism is not necessary for salvation.  However, salvation is necessary before baptism! In baptism we are telling others that we are now Christians.

Baptism is a testimony of the gospel story. “... 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).  Every single baptism is a witness (an acting out) of the gospel story - Christ died and we are dead to sin through salvation; Christ was buried and we are burying our old sinful life; Christ was raised and we are raised to a new life in Christ.  

Baptism is a testimony of our identification. The original word “baptizo” means literally to dip, to plunge, to place into a liquid. Just as a cloth placed into a vat of dye is “identified” with the dye, so in baptism one is identified completely with Jesus Christ. You have “clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

We also identify with the church (the body of Jesus Christ), for we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink”

(2 Corinthians 12:13).

It is important because of the risk we take: 

Biblical baptism brings risk of humiliation to our egos. We must admit our sin and our need for Christ’s salvation. We go through physical embarrassment as we are plunged into the water before witnesses. 

Biblical baptism is a risk of commitment. Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32,33). This is a great test of our discipleship - demonstrating who is really Lord of our lives. 

There is also the risk of involvement with God’s people - the church. In baptism one is declaring his/her participation in the body of Christ. There is a mutual responsibility; the individual is responsible to submit to and love the church; and the church is responsible to love and nurture the one baptized.