There are a lot of misconceptions about baptism. Some people think that you must be baptized in order to go to heaven. Others believe that it’s just an optional act of obedience. Some outside of the church doesn’t seem to have a strong opinion either way. So, should Christians get baptized, period?
Let’s see if we can explore the truth about baptism. What does it do for someone? Do we need it? Does it take Christian baptism to go to heaven? Do you have to be baptized to be a real Christian? Let’s dive in (no pun intended…well maybe so) and let’s take a look at the topic.
Should a Christian Get Baptized?
Yes, they should. Just remember that baptism does not bring you into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or give you the forgiveness of sins and the eternal life that you need. Baptism is simply an outward expression to others – a symbol that you have your have given your old life to Christ because of His death, burial, and resurrection. It expresses that you have been raised to life as a new person because of His forgiveness and the life of Jesus Christ working in you.
How Are Baptisms Performed? Dunked, Poured, or Sprinkled
Various Christian denominations perform baptisms in several ways. In the more liturgical types of churches, you may see the water sprinkled or you may see the water poured. To go into the history of the debate about how to baptize is not our purpose here. However, I believe that the form of baptism taught in scripture is that of full immersion.
With Baptists, most pentecostal, and non-denominational types of churches the common practice is baptism by full immersion into the water. Churches that believe full immersion to be the most Biblically accurate method of baptism will have some type of body of water in which to baptize people.
Historically, people were baptized in lakes, rivers, or wherever they could find a good safe place for the full immersion of the body if in fact, they were a church that believed in full immersion. We can give our opinion about that and there are volumes written about the type of baptism. However, let’s first ask, should Christians get baptized?
Should Christians Get Baptized? – What They Saying To The World
In answering the larger question of “should Christians get baptized,” we need to understand what someone’s baptism is expressing to the world. It is a very special and memorable time in the life of a Christian. By allowing ourselves to be baptized we are stating to our family, friends, and community that we have put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
By taking this symbolic act you are acknowledging and confessing that Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected to that you can walk in the newness of life that He has offered.
Jesus talked about baptism in the last statements that he said to His disciples before he ascended back into heaven:
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[b] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Should Christians Get Baptized In Order To Get To Heaven?
No, that’s really not the way it works. A person trusts Christ as their Savior, therefore, gaining access to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an eternity with Him in Heaven. They get baptized to demonstrate and acknowledge that relationship – not the other way around.
Christians should get baptized because it’s an act of obedience to Jesus Christ. When we are baptized, we identify ourselves with His death on the cross and declare to the world that we have died to our old life and have been raised to new life in Christ. It’s a public profession of our faith and commitment to follow Jesus.
Can I Be a Christian and Not Be Baptized?
Technically, yes. A person being baptized is not a prerequisite to accepting Christ as Savior and becoming a born-again believer. So, why do I say technically? Because technically you DON’T have to be baptized. So, why would you not want to be?
If becoming a true, born-again, child of God is the greatest thing that can ever happen to us in our lives, then why would we not want to express that to the world through baptism?
Plus, think about it this way. When you become a Christian you want to love God and be loved by God and obey Him when you believe He is speaking to you about something. Well, we know clearly that, in the Bible, God has instructed Christians to be baptized after they have accepted Jesus.
So, as one of my former Senior Pastors said, “Why would you want to be disobedient to the first thing God told you to do after you accepted Christ as Savior?” I always thought that was a great question. Why would you want to be disobedient to a clear instruction from God’s word?
Baptism is not required for salvation, but it is a symbol of our commitment to Christ. If you have never been baptized and would like to make that commitment, talk to your pastor or church leader about taking that step. They will be more than happy to help you take that next step in your faith journey!
Even though Jesus Was The Son Of God, Why Did He get baptized?
Yes, even Jesus Himself insisted on being baptized! In Matthew chapter three, we see that Jesus went to John the Baptist to be baptized. John tried to deter Him, saying that Jesus didn’t need baptism since He was without sin.
“Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened[g] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
Matthew 3:13-16
The symbolic act of baptism demonstrates that we are being buried, taken down under the water, and immediately raises up thereby demonstrating what has happened to us on the inside.
Jesus set that great example for us to be baptized. If Jesus did it as a symbolic gesture to the father and the world, why would we not do the same?
Should Christian Parents Baptize Their Infants?
Infant baptism has been a topic of debate in Christianity for centuries. Some church denominations adhere to the practice of infant baptism. They believe it to be an act that joins the child to the Christian life and salvation of Jesus Christ.
Our belief baptism is that baptism is a symbol of our willful and mindful decision to follow Christ. There aren’t any intances of infant baptism found in the scripture. So, it’s our belief that you must infer it from scripture. Most people who do practice it do so because of church tradition.
For many pastors, teachers, and scholars in the more conservative evangelical denominations believe that you shouldn’t baptize those who do not have the capacity to put their faith in Christ yet.
Those denominations believe that babies and children are covered by God’s grace until they reach a point of mental development where they can understand the gospel. At that point, they would make a decision to trust Christ for themselves and then be baptized.
Others believe that baptism is a sign of God’s covenant with His people and, since infants are born into Christian families, they should be included in that covenant through baptism. Some people who do get baptized as infants become baptized as adults when they begin to explore their faith and become interested in “believer’s baptism.”
Baby Dedication
Conservative evangelicals do, however, encourage families to be a part of a baby dedication service. Thousands of churches have those at various times of the year. Families are encouraged to bring their babies into the church service that day and there is a special ceremony.
However, it does not involve a baptism or any sense of conferring salvation on a child. It is done by the parents as an act of committing to bring up the child within the Christian faith so they might choose to follow Christ when they are old enough to make that decision.
Should Christians Get Baptized? – “Believer’s Baptism”
Here at LivingPraying.com, when we speak of baptism we are generally referring to a term that is sometimes called “Believer’s Baptism.” That simply means that an adult (or child) has come to the point in their life where they understand the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, his death, and resurrection for the payment of our sin.
At that point, they actively submit their lives and trust in Jesus’ sacrifice to save them from their sins. They “believe,” therefore they trust and receive Him.
Very importantly, it is the belief and acceptance in one’s heart and mind concerning the work of Christ in their life that allows one to be saved rather than the water itself. We believe that the mind should be developed enough to be able to choose to make that decision.
But, you may ask, is there any harm in baptizing an infant? Well, maybe.
Could It Be Harmful to Baptize Infants?
I think there is a very real possibility that baptizing babies before they are old enough to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ could be harmful in their future or confusing at least. No, it might not hurt or cause the child problems at the moment of their infant baptism.
However, as they begin their journey through life, they can be taught that they have already experienced baptism and it can give them a false sense of security in their personal salvation and faith in Christ.
The Bible teaches a need to deal with issues of repentance and faith in Christ when they are old enough to understand their meanings. If they get the impression that they were baptized and actually received salvation as an infant, then they may not make the ultimate and most important decision to give their life to God by faith in Christ.
Christian Baptism – “But I Have Always Been a Christian!”
Once, as a young man, I remember attending some type of political forum or debate. There were many social issues that were being debated on the political stage at that time – not quite as many as today, but there were still some heavily debated social topics and it was a forum heavily attended by Christians.
I remember one or more candidates telling the audience that they were a Christian and at least one of them stated how long they had been a Christian. When the next speaker stood to answer the question about their Christianity they said, “I have been a Christian all of my life.”
Well, there is a certain “definition” or essence of that statement that can be true. You can have been a part of a Christian family, raised in Christian heritage, or attended a Christian church all of your life.
However, those things do not necessarily make you a Christian. Each person must come to the place in their life where they, through an act of their will, believe in Jesus, repent of their sins, and trust Christ’s death on the cross for forgiveness. It’s a personal matter that each individual must deal with.
Certainly, we believe that a young child is loved and would be taken into the arms of God if there was an untimely death during their childhood. God is a God of grace. However, at some point (and no one can pinpoint that time or age) all men and women become accountable for their sins and need to turn to God in accepting what He has done for them.
When that happens, then true “Believers Baptism” can occur – and it is marvelous.
So, Should Christians Get Baptized?
I believe that the answer to that question is – yes! As pastors, we have experienced people who had become Christians but were so plagued with such intense horror of being in front of hundreds and hundreds of people, that we have arranged a baptism time where there were fewer people.
We have dealt with people who were physically incapable of getting in a baptismal pool or for some reason or another could not be submerged. At that point, a wise pastor will make the best decision possible, even if they do pour or sprinkle instead of submerging.
If you have not been baptized, we encourage you to talk to your pastor or another Christian friend about taking this important step of obedience. And if you have been baptized, remember that it is just one part of your journey with Christ. The most important thing is to grow in your relationship, pray, and spend time in the Bible with Him every day. Thanks for reading! God loves you so much!
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