Why We Believe In Believer’s Baptism
There are four reasons every believer must be baptized:
1. The Great Commission given by Jesus to the disciples commands that disciples be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20).
2. Jesus set an example by being baptized. This event was significant enough to be recorded in each of the four gospels (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34).
3. The book of Acts records the Church as requiring baptism for believers, not as a means of salvation, but in response to salvation (Acts 2:38-41, 8:36-39).
4. Baptism is taught in the letters of the New Testament (Colossians 2:11-12; l Peter 3:21).
WHAT IF I WAS ALREADY BAPTIZED?
Those who were baptized either as infants, small children, or without a proper understanding of salvation may wish to be re-baptized as believers.
WHY BELIEVER’S BAPTISM?
There are no instances in the New Testament in which either infants or non-believers were baptized. Therefore, we baptize only those who are of an age to choose for themselves to be baptized. We feel strongly on this point, but we do not condemn infant baptism or those who practice it.
WHY IMMERSION?
The word baptize means to dip or to immerse. Baptizing by immersion symbolizes the believer’s death, burial and resurrection with Christ in a water grave. Therefore, we baptize by immersion rather than sprinkling. In addition, the language used in the Bible to describe baptism indicates immersion. Matthew 3:16 says, “When He [Jesus] had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water.” A person does not come up from sprinkling but from immersion.
POOR REASONS TO BE BAPTIZED
1. In order to be saved. Baptism does not save anyone. It is done because one is saved already. (Acts 8:38 41; 1 Peter 3:21)
2. In order to become more spiritual. Baptism does not make one more spiritual. Believers in Corinth were baptized in water, yet they were carnal. (1 Corinthians 1:13-16)
3. Due to pressure from others. One should not be baptized because of pressure from others, or in order to please others (i.e., parents, spouses etc.). It should be done out of personal conviction to obey Christ and the Scriptures.
CORRECT REASONS FOR BAPTISM
1. Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ and the Scriptures.
2. Baptism is a physical demonstration of the believer’s association with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. This association is acted out by being symbolically “buried and resurrected” from a “water grave.” (Colossians 2:11-12)
3. Baptism is symbolic of being cleansed from sin. (Acts 2:38)
4. Baptism identifies Christians as being partakers of the new covenant just as circumcision identified Jewish males as partakers of the old covenant.
5. Baptism is a public testimony of what God has done for the believer by saving him or her. Therefore it is good to invite family and friends to baptisms.
WHEN BEING BAPTIZED ?
The person being baptized is asked, “Why do you want to be baptized?” The question is answered with a declaration of Jesus as Lord and Savior, and any word of testimony one may wish to share. The person being baptized will then be lowered under the water, and brought back up, while the baptizer says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
AFTER BEING BAPTIZED
It is not likely a person will feel any different than before he or she was baptized. But having been obedient to the Lord and to the Scriptures, we rejoice, walking by faith in the Word of God, not by feelings.
HAVE YOU BEEN BAPTIZED?
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and have not been baptized, may I suggest that you waste no more time. Contact your Church elders / pastors right away and take the necessary steps to obey the command to be baptized.
(Image courtesy: evangelicaloutreach.org)
1. The Great Commission given by Jesus to the disciples commands that disciples be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20).
2. Jesus set an example by being baptized. This event was significant enough to be recorded in each of the four gospels (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34).
3. The book of Acts records the Church as requiring baptism for believers, not as a means of salvation, but in response to salvation (Acts 2:38-41, 8:36-39).
4. Baptism is taught in the letters of the New Testament (Colossians 2:11-12; l Peter 3:21).
WHAT IF I WAS ALREADY BAPTIZED?
Those who were baptized either as infants, small children, or without a proper understanding of salvation may wish to be re-baptized as believers.
WHY BELIEVER’S BAPTISM?
There are no instances in the New Testament in which either infants or non-believers were baptized. Therefore, we baptize only those who are of an age to choose for themselves to be baptized. We feel strongly on this point, but we do not condemn infant baptism or those who practice it.
WHY IMMERSION?
The word baptize means to dip or to immerse. Baptizing by immersion symbolizes the believer’s death, burial and resurrection with Christ in a water grave. Therefore, we baptize by immersion rather than sprinkling. In addition, the language used in the Bible to describe baptism indicates immersion. Matthew 3:16 says, “When He [Jesus] had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water.” A person does not come up from sprinkling but from immersion.
POOR REASONS TO BE BAPTIZED
1. In order to be saved. Baptism does not save anyone. It is done because one is saved already. (Acts 8:38 41; 1 Peter 3:21)
2. In order to become more spiritual. Baptism does not make one more spiritual. Believers in Corinth were baptized in water, yet they were carnal. (1 Corinthians 1:13-16)
3. Due to pressure from others. One should not be baptized because of pressure from others, or in order to please others (i.e., parents, spouses etc.). It should be done out of personal conviction to obey Christ and the Scriptures.
CORRECT REASONS FOR BAPTISM
1. Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ and the Scriptures.
2. Baptism is a physical demonstration of the believer’s association with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. This association is acted out by being symbolically “buried and resurrected” from a “water grave.” (Colossians 2:11-12)
3. Baptism is symbolic of being cleansed from sin. (Acts 2:38)
4. Baptism identifies Christians as being partakers of the new covenant just as circumcision identified Jewish males as partakers of the old covenant.
5. Baptism is a public testimony of what God has done for the believer by saving him or her. Therefore it is good to invite family and friends to baptisms.
WHEN BEING BAPTIZED ?
The person being baptized is asked, “Why do you want to be baptized?” The question is answered with a declaration of Jesus as Lord and Savior, and any word of testimony one may wish to share. The person being baptized will then be lowered under the water, and brought back up, while the baptizer says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
AFTER BEING BAPTIZED
It is not likely a person will feel any different than before he or she was baptized. But having been obedient to the Lord and to the Scriptures, we rejoice, walking by faith in the Word of God, not by feelings.
HAVE YOU BEEN BAPTIZED?
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and have not been baptized, may I suggest that you waste no more time. Contact your Church elders / pastors right away and take the necessary steps to obey the command to be baptized.
(Image courtesy: evangelicaloutreach.org)
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