A Biblical Study of Water Baptism

“Baptize” – A Definition

“Baptize” is a word that was carried over from biblical Greek (baptidzo). It means “to immerse” or “dunk.”

There are different kinds of baptism in the Bible. There is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This takes place when the Lord Jesus baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit into his body at their conversion. This is a spiritual baptism that every believer experiences when they are saved (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:5). There are other kinds of baptism in the Bible, including baptism in water, which is the topic of our study. [1]

Water Baptism – What Is It? An Ordinance, a Sign and Symbol, a Means of Public Identification, and a Privilege

First, let’s be clear on what water baptism is not. Water baptism is not a means of salvation. Salvation from sin is by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Titus 3:4-7). Salvation is found in the Lord Jesus Christ alone because he has died for our sins and risen again. Water baptism is not required for salvation from sin. Baptism in water cannot save. Salvation is not by works of righteousness we have done but by God’s mercy in Christ who has died for our sins and risen again. We are saved by Jesus Christ’s person and work and nothing else. However, this does not mean that water baptism is unimportant or optional for believers.

An Ordinance

Water baptism is an ordinance; it has been commanded (ordained) by the Lord Jesus for all his people (Matthew 28:18-20). The apostles commanded those who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to be baptized in water (Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 10:47-48). This is the Lord Jesus’ ordained way for his people to publicly identify with him as their Lord and Savior. This is also the means God has ordained for people to be added to the local church (Acts 2:41).

Since salvation is something that takes place in the heart and cannot be seen by people, water baptism has been given as a physical and public sign that a person has believed in the Lord Jesus. It is God’s ordained way for believers to go public with their confession that Jesus Christ is Lord.

If a believer wishes to be obedient to the Lord Jesus, they must be baptized in water. Voluntary disobedience is serious and should never be taken lightly.

A Sign and Symbol

Water baptism is the visible sign and symbol that the invisible work of baptism in the Holy Spirit has been done by the Lord Jesus in the heart of a believer (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 10:47-48). It is a sign and symbol of the inward work of salvation. In water baptism, a believer in the Lord Jesus is immersed into and raised out of water as a public confession that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.

A Means of Identification and Confession

Water baptism is also a means of public identification and confession. It is God’s means for individuals to publicly identify with the Godhead. Matthew 28:19 says, “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…” When an individual is baptized into water that individual is being identified with our one God who eternally exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is distinctly Christian; it is God’s means for a disciple of Christ to publicly confess: “This Triune God is my God, and I belong to him.”

A Privilege

We should not only think of water baptism as an obligation, although it is clearly a biblical obligation. It is also a delight and privilege. Think of the grace of God in your life that you have been made a child of God (John 1:12-13; Ephesians 1-3; 1 John 3:1-3). Think of the great privilege and joy it is to publicly identify with the Lord who has loved you so much (Galatians 2:20). Far from drudgery, like we often imagine duty to be, it is a high and joyful privilege for a believer in Christ to publicly confess Jesus Christ is Lord.

Who Can and Should Be Baptized in Water? Those who have received the Gospel.

Acts 2:41 says, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

When Peter preached the Good News of the Lord Jesus, all who received his word were baptized.

What was his word? Please open your Bible and consider Peter’s message, which is really God’s message, in Acts 2:14-41. (Please read Acts 2:14-41 before continuing to read this post).

The following truths are included in Peter’s message:

The Lord Jesus Christ is a man come from God, and God testified to this through the many signs he did through him (v. 22). Peter’s sermon is clear that he is also God.
The Lord Jesus was crucified by the hands of sinful men and this was part of God’s eternal plan (v. 23). If we look at other passages, we see that his death was in the place of sinners, paying the penalty for the sins of his people (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 1:21).
God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, which was witnessed by the apostles (and more than 500 other believers) and fulfilled prophesy (vv. 24-32; Psalm 16:8-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11).
God raised the Lord Jesus up to his right hand, indicating that he is the promised descendant of David who is anointed by God as the eternal King (vv. 33-36; Psalm 110:1; Romans 1:1-7).
God the Father has declared this Jesus who was crucified Lord and Christ (v. 36). This means he is not only a man, but he is God and Master. The title “Christ” (or “Messiah”) indicates Jesus’ three offices of Prophet, Priest, and King.
The Lord Jesus, at the Father’s right hand, received the gift of the Holy Spirit and gives the Holy Spirit to all God calls to himself (Acts 2:33, 38-39).
Peter also includes the return of Jesus Christ in his Gospel proclamation in Acts 3:19-21. The Lord Jesus will return to restore all things.
Peter called them to repent. All who received this word of the Lord Jesus’ person (he is Lord and Christ) and work (he died for sins, rose again, is ascended to the Father’s right hand, and gives the Holy Spirit to the saved) were baptized (Acts 2:38, 41).

Only those who genuinely believed the Gospel were baptized. Water baptism is the Lord’s ordained public sign and confession that a person has believed the Gospel; only believers in the Lord Jesus should be baptized in water.

What Do I Need to Do If I Want To Be Baptized? Examine yourself and meet with our church’s leaders. [2]

Examine Yourself

First, you need to be certain that you have truly repented and are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone as your Lord and Savior (2 Corinthians 13:5). Do you know for certain that you are saved? Only disciples of Christ should be baptized. If you are not sure you are saved, please reach out to one of our church leaders! We want to help you! If you are reading this post and are not part of FBC, please contact me using the “Contact Me” page. Also visit the “Good News” page on this blog.

Meet with Church Leaders

Second, if you believe the Gospel, then you need to reach out to one of the church leaders and express your desire to obey the Lord’s command to be baptized. At FBC, you will also be interviewed by the church leaders in a meeting with the entire leadership team. This interview is a way for the leaders to shepherd you. This helps the leaders to be sure that you understand the Gospel, understand that baptism is a public confession that Jesus is Lord, and understand that water baptism is not what saves but is an act of obedience and identification for the saved. We will want to hear your testimony, so come prepared to share how you came to faith in the Lord Jesus. Please understand, if the leaders are concerned that you do not have a clear understanding of the Gospel, we will not present you as a candidate for water baptism. Instead, we will want to study the Gospel with you. A person’s relationship with God is of utmost and eternal importance, so we do not want to leave anyone confused about the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Third, be aware that you will need to speak at the water baptism service. You will need to confess that Jesus is Lord, since this is what baptism is all about. While this may be scary, the Holy Spirit will strengthen you to obey the Lord and publicly confess him before the church and the world.

For Parents: What If My Child Wants To Be Baptized?

Same Requirements for All Ages

The requirements for a child to be baptized are no different than the requirements for an adult. There are no special conditions for children. Everything mentioned above must be true for a child who wishes to be baptized. They need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ alone to be saved. They will need to personally express their desire to be baptized to one of the church’s leaders. In most cases, they will need your parental approval in order to be baptized, so expect one of the church leaders to personally contact you to confirm your support. Your child will need to meet with the leadership team to share their testimony and to make certain they understand what water baptism is (parents are welcome to be present in this meeting). They will need to speak publicly at the baptism service to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

While there is no biblical age requirement for a person to be baptized, there are conviction and understanding requirements as mentioned above. The church leadership must be convinced that anyone wishing to be baptized understands the Gospel and the nature of the public confession of water baptism before we will present them to the church as a candidate for baptism. Often children will need to be older before they are ready for water baptism. It is most important that they truly understand what they are doing and why they are doing it. Such understanding is necessary to make their submission to water baptism a true act of obedience.

Parental Responsibility: Disciple Your Children

As a parent, it is your responsibility to disciple your child. You are the primary teacher in your child’s life, especially if you are a father who is a believer in the Lord Jesus (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:4). It is the church leadership’s responsibility to help you know how to do this, so please reach out for help if you need it! The church leadership (or a designated teacher) will also lead your child through a study on water baptism. You, as the parent, are encouraged to participate. This could be a great launching point for you to further disciple your child. [3]

What Your Child Needs to Understand

Before your child is baptized, you need to make certain that they understand the Gospel and have truly embraced the Lord Jesus Christ through faith (John 1:12). Be sure not to push them. You cannot make them believe; this must be the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives through the power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 2:1-10). Faithfully share the Gospel and pray for the Holy Spirit to work.

You need to be sure that your child understands the significance of water baptism. It is about public confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. It is a physical sign of the work that God has done in the heart of believers in Christ. It is God’s means to bring someone into the church family in membership with its expectations and responsibilities (Acts 2:41). It is also the means by which the church body is publicly confessing that we believe that the individual being baptized is a true believer whom we will be responsible for in discipleship and care.

Also make certain that the desire for baptism is the child’s and not only your desire for them. This must be a personal decision to obey the Lord Jesus; it cannot and should not be forced on anyone.

In the end, it will be up to the church leadership’s discretion whether a child or adult is ready to be baptized. While it is sinful to needlessly delay being baptized, it is also wrong to rush someone who is not ready.

If you are in attendance at FBC, please reach out to the church leaders if you have any questions or desire to be baptized.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Bill Whittington

For a statement on the local church’s confession and commitment in the ordinance of water baptism see: “We Confess and Commit: The Entire Local Church’s Confession and Commitment in Water Baptism”

Notes:

This post is a discipleship resource that I am personally using as I pastor First Baptist Church of Ticonderoga, NY (FBC). I wrote this quite a while ago while I was pastoring another church. This is an updated and expanded version. This is not an official document of FBC. However, it includes some of the practices of FBC to increase its usefulness in pastoring and discipling this church family. The purpose of this blog is, first and foremost, to serve the church I pastor; if anyone else finds it beneficial, I thank the Lord. This resource is free to be used by any church or individual that finds it helpful. Please see the “About” page for copyright and uses information.
Currently, First Baptist Church has a leadership structure of a pastor and deacons. When you read “church leaders” in this post, that is who is being referred to. Again, I have included FBC’s current practices for the sake of discipleship.
I understand that there are times that believing children do not have believing parents. In those cases, it will be the church leadership’s responsibility to disciple or provide teachers to disciple the believing children in the Lord’s ways. Even unbelieving parents should be kept informed by church leadership when possible. This may be God’s means of saving these unbelieving parents.