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Mark 6 of the True Church
The True Church Baptizes by Immersion for the Remission of Sins
The principle: Baptism is essential to enter the kingdom of God. The true Church baptizes by immersion, as Jesus was baptized, for the remission of sins, by those with authority from God.
Jesus taught that we must be “born of water and of the Spirit” to enter the kingdom of God, and He was baptized Himself “to fulfil all righteousness.” Bible baptisms took place where there was “much water,” with people who “went down both into the water” and came “up out of the water.” Paul compared baptism to burial and resurrection. Peter taught baptism “for the remission of sins.”
What does the Bible say?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus teaches that a person must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Jesus traveled to John to be baptized ‘to fulfil all righteousness,’ setting the example for all.
9And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
Jesus came ‘up out of the water’ after His baptism in the Jordan.
And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
John baptized where there was ‘much water,’ which immersion requires.
38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Philip and the eunuch went ‘down both into the water’ and came ‘up out of the water.’
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Baptism is a burial with Christ and a rising to newness of life. Immersion pictures that burial and resurrection.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter teaches repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, followed by the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Jesus showed the way
Jesus had no sins to wash away, yet He walked to the Jordan River to be baptized by John, who had authority from God. When John hesitated, Jesus said it was “to fulfil all righteousness.” If the Son of God was baptized, every one of us needs to follow Him.
Down into the water
The Bible’s descriptions are vivid. John baptized “because there was much water there.” Jesus came “up out of the water.” Philip and the Ethiopian “went down both into the water.” The pattern is immersion.
Buried and raised with Christ
Paul gives the meaning behind the form. Going under the water is like being buried with Christ; coming up is like rising with Him “in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Baptism by immersion is a picture of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and of our own new start.
For the remission of sins, with authority
On the day of Pentecost, Peter told the crowd to repent and be baptized “for the remission of sins.” Baptism is not just a symbol; it is a covenant with God, performed in the name of Jesus Christ by those He has authorized (see the true Church acts with authority from God).
A question to ponder
Does a church baptize the way Jesus was baptized, for the reasons the apostles taught, by authority from God?
These scriptures at a glance
| Scripture (KJV) | What it shows |
|---|---|
| John 3:5 | Jesus teaches that a person must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. |
| Matthew 3:13–15 | Jesus traveled to John to be baptized ‘to fulfil all righteousness,’ setting the example for all. |
| Mark 1:9–10 | Jesus came ‘up out of the water’ after His baptism in the Jordan. |
| John 3:23 | John baptized where there was ‘much water,’ which immersion requires. |
| Acts 8:38–39 | Philip and the eunuch went ‘down both into the water’ and came ‘up out of the water.’ |
| Romans 6:3–5 | Baptism is a burial with Christ and a rising to newness of life. Immersion pictures that burial and resurrection. |
| Acts 2:38 | Peter teaches repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, followed by the gift of the Holy Ghost. |
Common questions
Why immersion and not sprinkling?
Every baptism described in detail in the New Testament involves going down into and coming up out of the water (Mark 1:10; Acts 8:38–39). Paul calls baptism being ‘buried with him’ (Romans 6:4), and immersion is the form that matches that symbol.
Should infants be baptized?
In the Bible, baptism follows faith and repentance (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16). Little children cannot yet repent, and Jesus said of them, ‘of such is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 19:14).
Read it for yourself
The best way to know these things is to read the verses in context and ask God about them (James 1:5). Open any reference above in our free King James Bible reader, then see how this principle fits with the other marks of the true Church.