Baptism of Repentance

Why did John the Baptist go “into all the region around the Jordan” (Luke 3:3) River?
After “proclaiming the baptism of repentance” (Luke 3:3), he administered that baptism to those who wanted to be baptized in and around the Jordan River “because there was much water there” (John 3:23).

What does “baptism” (Luke 3:3) mean?
The original Greek word βαπτισμα (baptisma) means to be immersed or submerged.

What is the Biblical way to be baptized today?
Immersed or submerged in water, whether it be in a river, lake, ocean, church baptismal pool, swimming pool, bathtub, inflatable pool filled with water, etc.

What did “baptism of repentance” express?
μετανοιας (metanoias), the original Greek word translated “of repentance,” means a transformative change of mind, attitude and purpose (see Repent meaning), so the baptism of repentance expressed the decision to be transformed away from sins.

How does baptism of repentance differ from today's baptism?
Today's baptism expresses having been saved by Jesus because He died on the cross to pay the death penalty due for our sins, and acknowledges Him as our Lord and Savior.

Does today's baptism require turning away from sins?
By definition, “Lord” is someone to be obeyed unconditionally. People who continue to live in sins against Jesus' commands in the Bible do not obey Him as their Lord, which means He hasn't saved them, and unsaved people should not be baptized.

Does that mean baptized Christians stop sinning altogether?
1 John 1:8 declares, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,” so even true Christians don't completely stop sinning until entering heaven. But our relationship with sin changes. Often upon being born again and certainly over time thereafter, there will be drastic reduction in the frequency of sinning, and the apathy, enjoyment of and desire to sin will be replaced by despair, confession and repentance upon sinning.

Should newborn babies be baptized?
The Bible neither instructs nor has any example of the baptism of babies, who understand neither sin nor repentance nor Jesus' cross.

Do babies born to Christian women automatically inherit their mothers' faith and are therefore born as Christians?
If so, Jesus wouldn't have said that we must be born “again” (John 3:3), and Paul wouldn't have had to be “persuaded” (2 Timothy 1:5) that Timothy, who was born to a Christian mother, also had faith.

Then why do some churches insist on baptizing newborn babies?
To lock them and their parents in as members and (future) financiers of their church. Branding anyone unsaved and therefore hell-bound that they are already saved, bound for heaven and therefore do not need to be born again is an extremely consequential lie.