Baptism is a foundational teaching within the church of God, serving as a physical ceremony with profound spiritual lessons and effects. It demonstrates to God our sincere decision to live His way of life and shows our belief in and acceptance of His Son's work on our behalf. Through baptism, God purges us of sin and grants us the power by His Spirit to live righteously before Him, acting as a springboard for His children to strive toward perfection. Before one is baptized, certain conditions must be met. Repentance and belief in the gospel of the Kingdom of God are essential prerequisites. Those seeking baptism must show their belief and be ready to repent of their sins and human nature, though they need not be Bible scholars or living perfectly, as growth in grace and knowledge comes after baptism. The timing of baptism is also significant. A candidate must be mature enough to discern the terms of God's offer for salvation, to understand what God desires, to repent, and to believe the gospel. A new believer should be baptized as soon as possible after reaching this point in their calling, and only adults who have met these qualifications should be baptized, ruling out children and the dead.