Before Jesus Christ's ministry began, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness about repentance from sin and baptism. In Matthew 3:11, he speaks of baptizing with water unto repentance, declaring that He who is coming after him is mightier and will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Baptism by water is seen as a cleansing act, preparing one for new life. On the last day of Unleavened Bread, God symbolically baptized the children of Israel as they passed through the Red Sea, emerging clean and free from their oppressors. From these examples, God seems to begin every instance of new life or creation with a baptism, a cleansing in water for the remission of sins, making it an essential and vital early step in His creative work with humanity.

There exists much confusion in the world regarding baptism, with variations in practice for convenience, such as sprinkling or partial immersion. Baptism, however, holds deep significance as a condition for salvation, symbolizing being buried with Christ into death and rising to walk in newness of life, as described in Romans 6:4. This act reflects a profound change, a commitment to a renewed existence under God's guidance. John the Baptizer introduced a baptism of repentance, drawing from Old Testament examples like the crossing of the Red Sea, where Israel was symbolically immersed, leaving behind their old life of sin in Egypt. This event, referenced in I Corinthians 10:2, typifies the spiritual immersion required of individuals today. John understood through his righteous upbringing and scriptural teachings that repentance must precede baptism, preparing a people for the coming Messiah. His call for repentance demanded an outward sign of inner change, echoing the national immersion of Israel under Moses. Repentance, as Jesus Christ proclaimed in Mark 1:15, is the first step toward becoming a Christian, alongside faith. It involves turning from sin and living according to God's commandments, a commitment that begins before baptism and continues throughout life. As Romans 3:23 states, all are sinners, necessitating a constant attitude of repentance. Baptism pictures a deep realization of personal sinfulness and a plea for God's forgiveness, as highlighted in Matthew 3:8, where fruits worthy of repentance must be evident. True repentance is not mere sorrow but a genuine transformation, bearing fruit such as love, joy, and self-control, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, promising the gift of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in Acts 2:37-39. This dual condition of repentance and belief is essential, as seen in Acts 8:36-37, where belief with all one's heart is a prerequisite for baptism. Baptism symbolizes faith in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, marking the beginning of a transformed life through the receipt of God's Spirit.

The concept of baptism of repentance centers on John the Baptist's ministry, which preached repentance from sin as the essential purpose of his baptism. John went throughout the region around the Jordan proclaiming this message, calling those who came to him a "brood of vipers" and warning them to flee the wrath to come by bearing fruits worthy of repentance rather than relying on lineage from Abraham. His teaching emphasized that this decision was permanent and carried eternal consequences, since "the ax is laid to the root of the trees," meaning every person who fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and destroyed. This established baptism as a one-time act marking a definitive break between an old life of sin and a new life of change, unlike a repeatable ritual of cleansing. When crowds asked John what they should do, his answers reflected the same substance as the two great commandments Jesus later gave: sharing with those in need, dealing honestly, and refraining from intimidation or false accusation—demonstrating love toward God through obedience and love toward neighbor through good deeds. Thus, though John did not preach the Kingdom of God explicitly, the components of the two great commandments were already present in his call to repentance. A critical distinction is drawn between John's baptism and Christian baptism: John's baptism did not include the Holy Spirit. He himself acknowledged that One mightier than himself would come and baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Because Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and ascension had not yet occurred, the Holy Spirit was not yet available to be given, so John lacked the power to impart it. This explains why, in Acts 8, Samaritans baptized by Philip had not yet received the Holy Spirit until apostles came and laid hands on them—illustrating the sequence: baptism first, then the laying on of hands, then reception of the Holy Spirit. This baptism of repentance connects to the broader teaching on baptism by establishing its foundational purpose: repentance for the remission of sins. This theme carries forward into Peter's sermon at Pentecost, where he instructs the crowd to "repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins," promising the gift of the Holy Spirit—the very element missing from John's baptism. In this way, John's baptism of repentance serves as a preparatory type, pointing toward the fuller Christian baptism that unites repentance with the reception of God's Spirit, marking the true beginning of a transformed, fruit-bearing life committed irrevocably to God.