“Buried with Him through immersion into death… raised… to walk in the newness of life.”
Romans 6:4
1Sin and the Need for a New Heart
Yahuah’s Promise
Ezekiel 36:25–27To sprinkle clean water, give a new heart, and put His Ruach within us.
Ezekiel 36:26 represents the Ruach HaQudesh replacing a hardened “heart of stone” with a responsive, living “heart of flesh,” enabling a person to follow Alahym.
Acts 2:37When the crowd was “cut to the heart,” Kepha (Peter) told them to “repent and be immersed (baptism).”
Romans 3:23For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Alahym.
Before we talk about immersion (baptism), we have to talk about sin.
ReflectWhat does it mean to you that you have “fallen short”?
Repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward Alahym.
2Mashyach’s Obedience and Command
Matthew 3:13–17Yahusha travels specifically to the Yurdan (Jordan) to be immersed (baptized) by Yahukkanan (John) to “fulfill all righteousness.”
Yahusha was sinless, so He didn’t need to repent.
ReflectWhy do you think He still chose to be immersed in water?
To identify with humanity, anticipate His sacrificial death for sins, and formally inaugurate His public ministry.
When Yahukkanan (John) the Immerser (Baptist) protested, Yahusha stated it was necessary to “fulfill all righteousness.” Although He had no sin to repent of, Yahusha willingly took His place alongside the fallen humanity. Beginning His saving mission by standing in solidarity with the very people He came to redeem. Showing, or being an example, leading the way!
Matthew 28:18–20The Great Commission. Yahusha commands His disciples to go, make disciples, and immerse (baptise) them.
Yahusha commands immersion (baptism) for every disciple.
3Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Colossians 2:11–12Immersion (baptism) is the cutting off of the sins of the flesh.
Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Mashyach; it is no longer I who live, but Mashyach lives in me.
Romans 6:1–11Focus heavily on verse 4: “Buried with Him through immersion (baptism) into death… raised… to walk in the newness of life.”
Going UnderWhen you go under the water, that represents death and burial.
Coming UpWhen you come up out of the water, that represents resurrection.
ReflectWhat part of your “old self” are you burying in that water (habits, pride, fear, past identity)?
ReflectWhat does “newness of life” look like for you starting the day after your immersion (baptism)?
ReflectRomans 6 says our “old self was crucified.” If you go into that water holding onto a secret sin you refuse to give up, is it a true immersion (baptism) or just a bath? Why?
Write down two (2) lists:
| Buried things you are leaving in the water |
Risen things you are trusting Mashyach to build in you |
4The Testimony
1 Peter 3:18–21Immersion (baptism) is not about washing dirt from the body, but the “pledge of a clear conscience toward Alahym.”
Acts 8:26–39“Look, here is water. What hinders me from being immersed (baptized)?”
Acts 2:41–42Immediately after immersion (baptism), the new believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship.”
Immersion (baptism) is a public declaration:
ReflectWho are the people in your life (family, friends, coworkers) who need to see you make this public declaration?
The Ethiopian didn’t delay.
ReflectIf you understand what immersion (baptism) means, why delay?
Immersion (baptism) doesn’t save you, Amunah (faith) does, and is the entry point into the body of Mashyach and the assembly of believers.
Prepare Your TestimonyWrite out a 1-to-2 minute testimony of what Yahusha has done for you. Practice saying it out loud. This is what you will share right before, or after you are immersed.
2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the Amunah (faith). Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Yahusha HaMashyach is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
The test involves looking for evidence of the Ruach HaQudesh’s transforming work in your life and recognizing that Yahusha Mashyach resides within you.
Answer these three (3) final questions:
- Do I truly believe that Yahusha Mashyach is the Son of Yahuah, who died for my sins and rose again? (Acts 8:37)
- Am I fully committed to putting my old way of life to death and walk in new obedience to Mashyach? (Romans 6:4)
- Is my decision to be immersed (baptized) driven by a desire to please Alahym, or by pressure from friends/family? (Galatians 1:10)
5The Meaning of Immersion: Identification with Mashyach
Romans 6:3–4Or do you not know that all of us who have been immersed (baptized) into Yahusha HaMashyach have been immersed (baptized) into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through immersion (baptism) into death, in order that as Mashyach was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
This is the central passage explaining immersion (baptism). Going under the water symbolizes dying to your old life, and coming up symbolizes being raised to a new life in Mashyach.
Galatians 3:27For all of you who were immersed (baptized) into Mashyach have clothed yourselves with Mashyach.
Immersion (baptism) is a public act of putting on Mashyach, identifying yourself with Him.
6The Prerequisites: Repentance and Amunah (Faith)
Acts 2:38Repent and be immersed (baptized) every one of you in the Name of Yahusha Mashyach for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaQudesh.
Repentance (a change of mind and turning from sin) must precede immersion (baptism).
Acts 8:12But when they believed Philip proclaiming the things concerning the kingdom of Alahym, and the Name of Yahusha HaMashyach, they were immersed (baptized), both men and women.
Belief in the gospel is the prerequisite for immersion (baptism).
Mark 16:16Whoever believes and is immersed (baptized) will be saved.
This links belief with immersion (baptism) as a response to salvation.
| Obedience & Surrender“Because of what Yahusha has done for me, I am publicly declaring Him as my Master and Savior. I surrender my life to follow His will.” | Renewal & New Life“I leave my old life behind in these waters, and I choose to walk in the newness of life that only Yahusha provides.” | Grace & Love“My testimony is a reflection of Yahuah’s relentless grace. I want my life to be a testament to His saving love.” |
7A Public Declaration and Clear Conscience
1 Peter 3:21Immersion (baptism)… now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward Alahym.
Immersion (baptism) is an internal pledge, an outward sign of an inward decision.
Study & Open Discussion
Watch the full study and open discussion of this teaching.
Take This Study With You
Enter your email to receive the full PDF of “The Immersion Decision” to study, print, and share.
More Teachings on Immersion
A few more messages on the meaning and practice of immersion.
Mark 1:1–11 on Immersion
What Makes a Baptism or Immersion Legitimate?
Another Study to Take With You
A companion teaching on immersion, available as a PDF to read, print, and share.
Questions We’re Often Asked
Many people reach out to us simply longing to be immersed. Here are some of the questions we receive most — answered from Scripture.
If I’ve already been immersed, should I be immersed again in the Name of Yahusha?
We warmly encourage it — why not, if you are able? Scripture even gives us a picture of this. When Sha’ul (Paul) met disciples at Ephesus who had only received Yoḥanan’s (John’s) immersion, they were immersed again — this time into the Name of the Master Yahusha (Acts 19:1–5). Being immersed in His Name is the consistent pattern we see throughout the book of Acts (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5). If your heart is drawn to take that step in Yahusha’s Name, we would rejoice with you.
Where can I get immersed?
For those who fellowship with the Assembly of Yahuah, immersions can take place at either of our two in-person gatherings each year — one at Pesach and the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the spring, and one at the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall. Many mishpaḥ (families) in our assembly have also arranged immersions closer to home, alongside believers who live near them. And remember — you do not have to wait for a feast. You can be immersed any day of the year.
I don’t know anyone near me who can immerse me. Where do I start?
You are not alone in asking — we hear this often, from all over. This is the very reason a resource called Immersion Finder exists. Whether or not you are looking to fellowship with our assembly, it can help: it lists believers throughout the nation who are willing to immerse others, connecting those who desire immersion with those able to carry it out.
Resource
ImmersionFinder.com
Connecting those seeking immersion with believers nationwide →
Does immersion save me?
No — and Scripture is clear about this. As Brother Rick’s study explains, immersion does not save you; Amunah (faith) does. Immersion is the outward sign of an inward decision already made — “the pledge of a clear conscience toward Alahym” (1 Peter 3:21). It is the joyful response of a heart that already believes and has turned to follow Yahusha.
How do I know I’m ready?
This is a beautiful question to sit quietly with before Him. Scripture invites us to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the Amunah” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If you believe Yahusha is the Son of Yahuah who died and rose for you, if you are ready to leave your old way of life behind, and if this decision is truly your own before Yahuah — then you are ready. The step is one of faith, not of feeling perfectly prepared.
