Ever felt accused by others? Sometimes when others accused us, it has been false and unjust. Other times, however, if we’re honest, we must admit that they have been right. Baptism is the Christian’s confession of God’s just accusation (charge) against us (humankind). We have rebelliously tried to run our lives our own way, apart from His will. Baptism is a picture of our confession of God’s just condemnation of us. Baptism is also a statement of hope; our hope for a new life because of what God has done in Jesus. Jesus had been circumcised as a Jewish infant, a member of God’s covenant people. He was also baptized as an adult “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). The last command Jesus gave his disciples was, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you . . .” (Matthew 28:19-20). The first step of discipleship for the Christians in the New Testament was to be baptized as a public profession of God’s grace to them. It should be so for us as well.