What Do I Need To Know About Baptism?
Baptism doesn’t save anyone.
The Bible is clear. We are not saved by baptism. We are saved by placing our faith in Jesus Christ to save us from our sin. We are saved by our trust in Christ, not by any actions we do in obedience to Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)
We are saved by our belief in Christ, not baptism.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
We are saved by God’s grace and simply by faith. If we were saved by baptism, we would be saved by our works.
…he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,… Titus 3:5 (ESV)
The Bible again clearly says we are not saved by any good works we do for Jesus. We are saved by our simple faith and trust in Him. BUT the Bible tells us to be baptized after we have trusted in Jesus.
While we are saved by faith alone, the Bible tells us to be baptized after we trust in Jesus.
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 (ESV)
Baptism after belief in the normal practice we see in the Bible. Baptism is not essential for salvation but it is the normal thing that took place after salvation.
People can be saved but not be baptized.
But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40–43 (ESV)
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16 (ESV)
Those who believe should be baptized. It is the normal thing to do. Those who believe in Jesus but have not had the chance to be baptized will still be saved. It is not the unbaptized who are condemned but those who do not believe that are condemned. The thief on the cross who was crucified next to Jesus is an example of someone who believed in Christ but never had the opportunity to be baptized into Christ.
Baptism is a picture of identifying with Jesus.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3–4 (ESV)
The action of being immersed in water illustrates dying and being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water illustrates resurrection with Christ. This verse also teaches that baptism by immersion is the preferable way for a Christian to be baptized.For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 (ESV)
Getting baptized into Christ is a way of publicly identifying your trust in the death and resurrection of Christ to pay for your sin and give you new life.
Baptism should be public and ideally in front of the church.
Baptism is also like a wedding ceremony. Just as a wedding ceremony is a formal public proclamation of the decision a couple made for marriage in their hearts, baptism is the formal public proclamation of our faith in Christ, a decision we made in our heart. Just as a wedding ideally takes place in front of your family, baptism ideally takes place in front of your church family as you proclaim to them, and others, your faith in Jesus.
In Baptism, your heart matters more than the action.
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,… 1 Peter 3:21 (ESV)
Peter tells us it is not the act of baptism that is significant, as if baptism washes dirt off our body, it is the appeal of our heart to God when we are baptized that is important. This means it doesn’t matter if you are baptized in a pond of dirty water, a river of running water, or a pool of chlorinated water. While the act is important, it is the state of the heart in the act that is important. It is our trust in the resurrection of Jesus to save us from our sins and give us new life.
Baptism should follow faith. It shouldn't be delayed.
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 8:12 (ESV)
In the Bible, public baptism followed a decision in the heart to follow Christ. When someone trusts in Christ, it is an act of biblical obedience to be baptized. In the early church, those who refused to be baptized were saying they didn’t truly believe. In the early church, an unbaptized believer was unheard of. A person who claimed faith in Jesus but did not want to make a public proclamation of that faith was not considered to have genuine faith.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” Acts 8:35–36 (ESV)
The Ethiopian Eunuch wanted to be baptized as soon as he believed.
Baptism identifies us with Jesus and His church.
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:11–12 (ESV)
Just as circumcision was a sign of membership in the old covenant community, baptism is a sign of membership in the new covenant community where we place our faith and trust in Jesus to save us from our sins.
Baptism comes with a blessing.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
Whenever we obey the word of God, God is pleased with any steps of obedience we take to follow His Word. If you haven’t been baptized, you are denying yourself the blessing of obedience to Christ in this area.
Baptism is a great way to share the gospel.
Whenever someone is baptized, especially in front of the church or in public, it is an opportunity for others to hear your testimony, both verbally and visually, and for them to place their faith in Jesus as well. It is not uncommon for someone's baptism to lead others who are watching to also trust in Jesus.
What if I was baptized as a child?
Some denominations conduct baptisms of infants. They do this because they see a parallel between the circumcision of children as infants in The Old Testament with the baptism of children in the New Testament. For some, they believe infant baptism saves a child. Infant baptism is also done in the hope that infants will grow into adults who later confirm their infant baptism in a confirmation class.
Outside of “household” baptisms in Scripture, which possibly included infants, we do not see infant baptism practiced in the New Testament. The New Testament consistently demonstrates adult believer baptism as the normative practice. While some adults consider their infant baptism and adult confirmation to be a valid baptism, many other adults—who were baptized as infants—choose to also be baptized as adults. This allows them the joy of making a public proclamation of the faith they chose. There is nothing wrong with being baptized as an adult if you were baptized as an infant.
How should I prepare for baptism?
- Talk to a pastor telling him about your desire to be baptized.
- What questions should I be able to answer before I am baptized?
- Why do I want to be baptized?
- What has Jesus done for me?
- What does Jesus mean to me?
- In my own words, what is the gospel message?
- Prepare to share a brief testimony of how God has been at work in your life, and what brought you to saving faith in Jesus.
- Wear dark-colored clothes.
- Bring a change of clothes and a towel.
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