What Every Christian Needs to Know About Baptism: Biblical Commands and Personal Experience
I remember that Sunday evening in May, so many years ago. I was at my church, preparing for my baptism, and I had possibly the worst headache of my life. Excruciating pain dwelt behind my eyes; I hardly had the power to stand up. I wanted to go home, but I called my wife into the preparation room, and she prayed for me. The headache did not depart, but I pressed on to the sanctuary. Why did I have that headache? I believe it was a full-on spiritual attack designed to dissuade me from proceeding.
Why would I be attacked? To answer that requires a discussion about baptism.
We first see baptism in the ministry of John the Baptist. The Bible says that many came to him to be baptized by him, and they were confessing their sins (Matthew 3:5-6). It culminated in him baptizing the Lord Jesus. John did not want to baptize Jesus, as Jesus had no sin to confess. Yet Jesus told John that it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:14-17).
Afterward, we are told that Jesus began baptizing many in the region (John 3:22). Later, after Jesus was resurrected and was preparing to ascend into heaven, He commanded His followers to make disciples, and one of the aspects of making disciples is to baptize them “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). To summarize, baptism is found at the beginning of the gospels and at the end of the gospels. This speaks to the importance of baptism in the Gospel of our Lord. So, what is baptism, and why should a person be baptized, and who should be baptized?
What is baptism?
Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament Church. A sacrament is a sacred or holy observance that is an outward sign of an inward, spiritual reality. (The spiritual reality of a sacrament always points to the work of God, not of humans).
The sacrament of baptism, according to scripture, is an outward sign that a person has received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Baptism is then a public declaration that this person has spiritually died with Christ, been buried with Christ, and has been raised to new life with Christ (Romans 6:3-4). It is also a sign that a person is secured in the covenant (promise) of God (Colossians 2:11-12). Baptism is furthermore a sign that a person has been washed from the filth of sin to cleanliness of a holy life in the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5).
Therefore, a born-again believer goes to the waters of baptism to declare to all that they are indeed a living testimony of the reality of the gospel of Christ.
Why be baptized?
Why should a follower of Christ be baptized? Though there may be many more reasons, I will list five.
The first reason is that it is commanded. Jesus said discipleship is about being baptized (Matthew 28:19). Actually, it is entry-level discipleship.
Secondly, the apostles teach it. Peter and Paul both speak of the necessity of believers being baptized (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Corinthians 13:16).
The third reason has already been mentioned–that it is a public statement of identification with Christ, and a witness of the inward reality of spiritual newness of life.
A fourth reason is actually stated in the question. A follower of Christ is just that. Remember that Jesus had no sin and yet He was baptized? In order to fulfill all righteousness He was baptized, therefore all believers are to follow Him into baptism.
Finally, number five, the New Testament is replete with examples of believers being baptized. In fact, outside of the thief on the cross (who was saved even as he died on the cross beside Jesus), I can find nowhere in the New Testament where believers were NOT baptized. Every time someone was saved, they immediately and gladly were baptized (e.g. Three thousand people–Acts 2:41; Ethiopian Eunuch–Acts 8:34-38; Philippian jailer–Acts 16:33).
Who should be baptized?
I have stated many times above that born-again believers are to be baptized. Yet I want to emphasize here that ONLY born-again believers are the ones to be baptized. As baptism is a sacrament, a non-believer is forbidden to participate, as that would be a false testimony. Remember, baptism is an outward sign of an inward working of God.
A final word on who should be baptized. It is not a requirement FOR salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Bapitsm, rather, is an obedience FROM salvation. In other words, baptism does not lead us to be saved, baptism shows that we ARE saved.
So, in closing, why would I have been spiritually attacked that evening in May? Because it was a temptation to disobey the command of the Lord to be baptized. After my wife prayed with me, I painfully went forward to be baptized. As I came up out of the water, I was excited to know that I had done what Jesus commanded me to do. I was immediately handed a towel and walked out of the rear door of the sanctuary. I had only gone about 50 feet when I suddenly realized that the most painful headache of my life was completely gone! The enemy was not successful that day. Sadly, he is still being successful in believers’ lives today. It is my prayer that, if you have received the Lord Jesus and been born again, he will not be successful in keeping you from gladly obeying Him in going to the waters of baptism.
Have you received Jesus but not yet followed Him into the waters of baptism? Take that next step of discipleship and sign up for baptism. Next round is June 29.