MORE THAN WATER · PART 5 OF 9
Quick answer: Wooddale baptizes by immersion because the Greek word baptizō most commonly referred to dipping or immersing, because the baptisms described in the New Testament fit naturally with immersion and because going beneath the water and rising again pictures Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4).
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As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.
— Matthew 3:16
It’s one of the first practical questions people ask. “Why does Wooddale baptize by immersion?” “Couldn’t someone simply be sprinkled?” “Does it really matter how someone is baptized as long as they love Jesus?” Those are thoughtful questions. And before we answer them, we want to begin with something important.
Throughout Church history, sincere followers of Jesus have differed on the mode of baptism. Some churches practice immersion. Others practice pouring or sprinkling. Many faithful Christians have defended each position from Scripture with humility and conviction.
This article isn’t written to criticize other churches or diminish the faith of those who practice baptism differently. Rather, it answers a simpler question: Why does Wooddale practice baptism by immersion? Our desire isn’t to be different. We want to be faithful to what we believe the Bible teaches while preserving the rich symbolism God has given us.
One reason many churches practice immersion is the meaning of the Greek word used throughout the New Testament. The word is baptizō. While languages are complex and individual words can carry different shades of meaning depending on context, baptizō most commonly referred to as dipping, plunging, immersing or submerging something beneath the surface.
In everyday Greek usage, it described things like cloth being immersed in dye or objects being placed beneath water. That doesn’t settle every theological discussion. But it does help explain why immersion became the normal practice of the early church.
When we look at the New Testament, we repeatedly notice details that naturally fit immersion. After Jesus was baptized, “He went up out of the water.” When Philip baptized the Ethiopian official, “Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water… and when they came up out of the water…”
These descriptions don’t explicitly say immersion was the only possible method. But they certainly fit comfortably with it. More importantly, they reinforce the picture Paul later describes in Romans 6: burial and resurrection.
One of our favorite moments during every baptism is watching someone come up out of the water. Almost instinctively, they smile. The congregation applauds. Families celebrate. Why? Because everyone has just witnessed a picture of resurrection.
Think about what happens. For a brief moment, the believer disappears beneath the water. Then they emerge again. It’s impossible not to think about Easter morning. The empty tomb. Death defeated. Life victorious. Every baptism quietly echoes that glorious truth. Jesus lives. And because He lives, those who belong to Him have been made new.
People occasionally ask, “If immersion pictures resurrection, should we be baptized again whenever we experience spiritual renewal?” The New Testament consistently points toward one baptism. Why? Because Christ died once. Rose once. Saved us once. Our baptism celebrates that once-for-all work. There may be seasons of repentance. Renewal. Revival. But baptism marks our entrance into life with Christ. Just as you’re born physically once, you’re born again spiritually once.
Absolutely. God has always been far bigger than our denominations. He saves people in Baptist churches. Presbyterian churches. Methodist churches. Lutheran churches. Non-denominational churches. And many others.
Our confidence isn’t found in our baptismal practice. It’s found in Jesus Christ. That being said, every church must decide how it believes Scripture is best understood. At Wooddale, we believe immersion most faithfully reflects both the New Testament pattern and the rich symbolism God intended baptism to communicate. We hold that conviction with confidence. And we hold it with humility.
Sometimes people assume immersion is simply a tradition we’ve inherited. It’s much more than that. Every time we lower someone beneath the water, we’re proclaiming the gospel. Every time they rise, we’re celebrating resurrection.
Every baptism becomes a living sermon. Without saying a word, it announces: Jesus died. Jesus was buried. Jesus rose again. And because of Him, this person’s life has been made new. That’s a picture worth preserving.
At the end of the day, baptism isn’t primarily about the method. It’s about the Messiah. The water points to Jesus. The symbolism points to Jesus. The celebration points to Jesus. The testimony points to Jesus.
Everything about baptism ultimately directs our attention away from ourselves and toward the One who loved us enough to give His life for us. That’s why immersion matters. Not because it’s the hero of the story. Because it helps us see the Hero more clearly.
This article is part of More Than Water, a series on the beauty, meaning and mission of baptism. Start with the complete guide to baptism.
Whether you’re new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, we’d love to celebrate this step with you. Register for baptism, email our pastoral team or call 952.944.6300.
Wooddale Church is a multigenerational, Bible-teaching church in Minnesota with locations in Eden Prairie, Edina and Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota. Whether you’re looking for a church near you, exploring faith for the first time or simply curious about what happens at church, we invite you to join us.
If this article has raised questions, encouraged you or helped you see baptism in a new way, we’d love to continue the conversation. Whether you’re exploring Christianity for the first time, considering baptism or simply looking for a church family where you can continue growing in your faith, we’d be honored to walk alongside you. Following Jesus was never meant to be a journey you travel alone.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
