About Baptism

Who should be Baptized?

“The people who heard Peter’s Pentecost sermon asked, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ He answered, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37, 38)

It is clear from these Bible verses as well as others, that the people first “repented” of sin and “believed” in Jesus Christ and then were baptized. One must believe in Christ to be eligible for baptism.

Why should we be Baptized?

Christ commanded it. He instructed His disciples to “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

It is the pattern followed by New Testament Believers. “…many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8 c.f. Acts 2:37-38; 8:12-13)

It is a symbol and a pledge of your salvation. “Water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 3:21)

It is that point at which our sins are washed away.  (See Acts 2:37-38 above)

Lastly but most importantly, baptism is that place at which we are joined with Jesus Christ.  “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:3-4

Baptism is the point at which we surrender our lives, die with Christ and arise a new creation in Him.

When should we be Baptized?

The most detailed example of baptism is found in Acts 8 when Philip was speaking to the Eunuch about Christ: “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the Eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’…Then both Philip and the Eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” (Acts 8:35-37)

We can conclude that there is no reason to delay. As soon as a person declares his belief in Christ; he should be baptized.