The Next Step of Faith - Baptism
"Who is to be baptized?"
You are to be baptized if -
you already have trusted Jesus as your Savior You know that baptism is a symbol of what Jesus has done for you and is an expression of obedience to Christ You are not ashamed to follow Christ's example"Why be baptized?"
Every follower of Jesus should be baptized because....1. Jesus commanded it. "Go therefore and make deciples of all the nations, baptizing them..." ( Matt 28:19, NKJV )
2. Baptism demonstrates obedience
Jesus set the example ( Mark 1:9 ) Jesus' followers obeyed His command to be baptized ( Acts 2:41; 8:38 )3. Baptism represents a picture of breaking from the past and beginning a new life with Christ.
"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just a Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" ( Rom 6:4, NKJV )
"How will I be baptized?"
By immersion
Immersion is the biblical picture of baptism New Testament, or believer's baptism has these essentials.
Water ( Acts 8:38 ), much water ( John 3:23 ) Going down into the water ( Acts 8:38 ) Being "buried" in the water ( Rom 6:4; Col 2:12 ) Being raised from the water ( Rom 6:4; Col 2:12 ) Coming out of the water ( Mark 1:10; Acts 8:39 )"Is immersion essential?"
To salvation? No! ( 1 Cor 1:17 )
To obedience? Yes! ( Matt 3:13-15 )
With the church
New Testament believers were publicly baptized before other followers of Christ. Believers today almost always become members of the church that baptizes them ( 2 Tim 1:8 )"When should I be baptized?"
As soon as possible
New Testament followers of Jesus were baptized immediately after trusting Christ as personal Savior ( Acts 2:41; 8:36; 16:14-15, 33 )During a worship service
You may immediately show your obedience to Jesus by being baptized during the worship service of a church.
You likely will not be asked to say anything publicly ( if so, a brief statement of your testimony ). Several people may be baptized in the same service You will have a dressing room Someone will greet you ahead of time and accompany you every step of the way during your baptismal serviceWhat hinders you?
Nothing was Philip's obvious answer. The Ethiopian was baptized immediately after trusting in Jesus and after asking, "See, here is water. "What hinders me from being baptized?" ( Acts 8:36, NKJV )
Other Questions You May Have
"Do I become a church member?"
In almost every case, yes--of the church that baptizes you."I already have been baptized as an adult"
If your recent prayer to trust Jesus was your salvation commitment, then you need to be baptized. Remember, baptism comes after sincerely and consciously trusting Jesus as Savior."My baptism was not by immersion"
Many have had a similar experience. On discovering the scriptural reasons for baptism, you should be happy to be immersed, just as Jesus and many other followers in the Bible were immersed."I was baptized as an infant"
Usually infant baptism reflects the best loving intentions of a family; but the child is not old enough to have any decision, acceptance, or trust in the matter. In the Bible baptism always came after someone had consciously and purposefully made a personal decision to accept and trust Jusus as Savior and Lord. There are no examples of infant baptism in the Bible.
The above was abstracted from Baptism, My Next Step of Faith , LifeWay Press , © Copyright 1999 used here by permission. Scriptures marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version, © Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982. Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers