Before there can be a new life, there must be a death of the old life. John the Baptist preached the message of repentance in preparation for the Messiah who was to come and make things new. Repentance is a complete turning around from sin, and a confession of our need for a savior. After the death of our old lives, it is important to be baptized in water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The significance of water baptism is found in the scriptures.
Baptism is the burial of the old life that died in repentance.
After the death of the old life through the repentance and burial of those sins in water baptism, the scene is set for resurrection of the new man. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.