Note: I wrote the following for those attending First Baptist Church of Ticonderoga who want to be baptized.
For those interested in water baptism,
Let me begin by saying that I am thankful to the Lord for your desire to obey our Lord’s command to be baptized as his disciple. This is an important step in your walk with the Lord.
It is important that you understand some key truths about baptism.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BAPTIZED?
Our English word “baptize” comes from the Greek word baptidzo. The word baptidzo means “to dip” or “to dunk” or “to immerse.” To be baptized is to be dunked, dipped, or immersed in something. The Bible talks about different types of baptism. There is a baptism of fire (Luke 3:16) and a baptism in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). There is also water baptism (Acts 8:12-16, 36-38).
Baptism in the Spirit is something that happens the moment that we are saved by the Lord. It is something that we cannot see because it is a spiritual reality. The Lord Jesus, the moment we are saved, baptizes us in the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13). This is what places us into the Body of Christ, his Church. It is also at this moment that God seals us with the promised Holy Spirit, so we are permanently safe as believers (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Water baptism is a physical symbol of a spiritual reality. Just as the Lord Jesus baptized us in the Spirit, so we are baptized in water to show that we have been baptized in the Spirit. It is a physical sign of the work the Lord Jesus has done in us.
Since “baptize” means to dip or dunk, when we are baptized in water we are dipped into water. This is the Bible’s commanded way of baptism. This is what is often called the mode of baptism. We do not believe the Bible teaches sprinkling or pouring but immersion.
WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
The Bible’s teaching is clear that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should be baptized in water. The Lord Jesus said that his disciples are to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
We see the baptism of believers in Christ patterned in the Bible. In Acts 2:41 we are told, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” The word Peter preached was the Good News of Christ (Acts 2:14-36). It was those who received that Word, those who received the Christ of that Word, who were baptized. We have no mention of their children or infants being baptized. It is only those who believed the Gospel who were baptized.
In Acts 8:12 we have the same situation. “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.” It was those who believed the Good News message of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ who were baptized.
Only those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ are to be baptized. All those who believe in the Lord Jesus are to be baptized.
WHY SHOULD BELIEVERS IN CHRIST BE BAPTIZED?
Simply put, we should be baptized because the Lord Jesus has commanded that his disciples be baptized (Matthew 28:18-20). He is Lord. We have received him as Lord (Acts 2:36, 41; Colossians 2:6), so we are to obey him as our Lord.
WHY DO WE NOT BAPTIZE THE INFANTS OF BELIEVERS?
There are some godly believers in Christ who teach that the infants of believers should be baptized. Those who subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Belgic Confession teach this. We believe that these individuals are faithfully trying to follow the Bible. However, we disagree with them on biblical grounds.
We do not believe that infants should be baptized because baptism is never separated from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, the Bible only gives us examples of believers in Christ being baptized. The Bible does not command that infants be baptized nor does the Bible provide us with any examples of infants being baptized. The Bible does not provide us with examples of anyone being baptized without a confession of faith in Christ.
In every biblical case, professing believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are the only ones who are baptized in water. Believers in Christ are the only ones commanded to be baptized (Matthew 28:18-20).
WHAT ABOUT BAPTIZING CHILDREN?
There are brothers and sisters in Christ who disagree on this issue. Each church must practice what they believe is right.
It is our belief that all believers in Christ are commanded to be baptized. This command to be baptized is not given to people of a certain age. Nor is it dependent upon a certain trial period of showing obedience. The only condition for a person to be baptized is confession of personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the requirement no matter the age. Therefore, anyone who gives a credible confession of faith can be and should be baptized (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12-16; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 10:47-48).
It is our belief that personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the sole requirement for anyone of any age to receive water baptism.
WHAT IS BAPTISM IN WATER ALL ABOUT?
Baptism in water is an act of obedience to our Lord Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).
Baptism is a public confession of personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord (Acts 2:41). Included in this is the public confession that we are following Christ as Lord (Matthew 28:18-20).
Baptism is God’s means of publicly identifying ourselves as his people. We are baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit to say that we are united with and identified with the God of the Bible (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 8:12; 1 Corinthians 1:12-15).
WHAT WATER BAPTISM IS NOT
Water baptism is not God’s means of saving us from sin. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Acts 15:11; Ephesians 2:8-10). We are born again of the Spirit and his spiritual washing according to God’s mercy (Titus 3:4-5). We are justified (declared right with God) through faith in Christ as a gift of God’s grace (Romans 3:19-26).
The Apostle Paul makes this point in 1 Corinthians 1:17 which says, “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” Water baptism is not the Gospel and the Gospel is not water baptism. If it had been then Paul could not have made the statement separating the two. Water baptism is a statement that one has believed the Gospel, but it is not the Gospel or the means of receiving the Gospel.
SHOULD YOU BE BAPTIZED?
Have you received Christ Jesus the Lord? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as our your Savior? Are you convinced that he has died in your place for your sins and come back to life again so you can be declared right with God?
If you can answer yes to these questions with full heart conviction then you should be baptized. You should be baptized to obey the Lord you have received. You should be baptized to confess that you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. You should be baptized to publicly identify yourself with the God of the Bible who has saved you from your sins for himself.
This act of personal obedience, confession, and identification glorifies God. It is an act of worship that speaks of his grace in saving you from sin through the work of Christ. And glorifying God is what life is all about! (1 Corinthians 10:31).
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