Water baptism is a public, outward testimony that indicates a personal, inward faith.
It gives evidence of the inner change that has already occurred in the believer's
life when he or she was "born again" through faith in Jesus Christ.
We were therefore buried with him through
baptism into death in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
-Romans 6:4