There are a lot of questions that people have surrounding baptism. Should infants be baptized? What about spiritual formation and next steps? Breaking this down into four questions, let’s look at what the Bible says.
What is baptism?
The Greek word is “baptizo” which means to dip, to immerse, to submerge. Baptism is called a sacrament or an ordinance but those are manmade terms. Baptism is not called either in the New Testament. Some churches practice sprinkling and infant baptism but those are not found in Scripture. They are more dedicatory like what we call Baby Dedication. In fact, in the Bible we see Joseph and Mary dedicating Jesus to God in Luke 2:22–40, but Jesus was later baptized as an adult in Matthew 3:16–17. At Liberty, we provide opportunities for child dedication and believer’s baptism.Baptism is an act of obedience. The Bible says, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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…” (Mt. 28:18-19). It is not optional. It is a command of Christ.
Who should be baptized?
The Bible says that those who repent should be baptized (see Mk. 1:4 and Acts 2:38). Why do you need to repent? We have all sinned. The 10 Commandments were given to show us our need to repent. The law revealed God’s righteousness but could not make us righteous. The law teaches us about the Savior but could not save us. The law tells us we are spiritually dead but could not make us spiritually alive. James 1 says it is a mirror. What does a mirror do? It shows us what needs to be cleaned, but it is powerless to clean us up. True Christians repent and believe. Who should be baptized? Those who repent and believe. In Scripture, however old they were when baptized, they were old enough to believe on their own. It was not something their parents did for them. Repentance and belief come before baptism (see Mk. 16:16, Acts 8:12, Acts 18:8).
Why should you be baptized?
We should be baptized to follow the example of Jesus. As soon as Jesus was baptized, “A voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’” (Mt. 3:17). If you want to please God, you will be baptized. Don’t worry about what others think. You want the Father to look down and say this is my son/daughter in whom I am well pleased. Jesus was baptized to set an example for us. Jesus did not need forgiveness. He was sinless. Why then? He was baptized to identify with us. We should be baptized to identify with Him. Baptism is the wedding ring of the Christian life. Baptism does not make me a Christian. The ring does not make me married. The ring does not make me love my wife. It lets everyone know that I love her and am married. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. We are baptized to mark a changed life (Rom. 6:3-4) and to declare Christ publicly (Mt. 10:32-22).
When should you be baptized?
Immediately after you repent and believe you should be baptized. Acts 2 says, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized…Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (v. 38, 41). They didn’t take a class first, they did it immediately. Salvation is in Jesus alone. It’s not Jesus and religion, Jesus and baptism, Jesus and communion, or Jesus and good works. We know this because Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today, you will be will be in paradise.” Baptism does not save a person, but every saved person should be baptized. Baptism does not make you a member of the church. It makes you knownas a member of Christ. Sin is an act of rebellion. Baptism is act of humble obedience. It is a symbol, ordinance, testimony, picture, and identification with Christ and the church.
