Baptism is a symbol of our salvation…it shows our faith and obedience toward God…it unifies us as believers, confirming that we are together His church. The washing of the sin from our hearts through Christ must always come first. The Bible is also clear that Christ-followers are to follow Christ. If He said baptism was important, then it is important. It is a picture (symbolic) of how our acceptance of Christ as our Saviour has caused us to take on His characteristics. We are “buried” with him in baptism, and “raised” to a new life in Him.  “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”  Romans 6:4