But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3)

Baptism is very simple and not confusing. The Bible clearly tells us who should be baptized and when. However, because of complicated church doctrines through the centuries that are not based on scripture, much confusion has developed.

Before Jesus was born, the act of baptism existed in Jewish culture. Its purpose was to be the outward confession of a belief. For example, John the Baptist preached that the Messiah was going to come. Everyone who listened to him and believed in his statements concerning the Messiah would be baptized (immersed) in water. As they came out of the water dripping wet, then it was obvious that they were “believers” in what was being preached. Simply put, those who were baptized were believers who believed strong enough in what was spoken that they publicly allowed themselves to be dunked in the water as an outward profession of their belief.

Although Jesus was baptized at the age of thirty by John, Jesus Himself baptized no one. However, after Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, the apostles baptized all who received Jesus as the Messiah. From this point on in every case recorded in scripture, baptism (immersion in water by a church leader) took place after the one being baptized had become a believer in Jesus.

Christian baptism is the outward expression of what has taken place on the inside. Many times when the Bible talks about confessing Jesus before men, it is partially referring to being baptized, as baptism was the customary way of expressing your belief publicly.

The Bible says in Acts chapter eight that Philip went to Samaria. After he preached the gospel to them, it says the whole town believed and after they believed, they were baptized.

Later, he was talking to an Ethiopian eunuch teaching him about the things of Jesus. As they came upon some water, the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip a question. He said, “Is there anything that prevents me from being baptized now?” Philip clearly told him that there was only one thing that would keep him from being baptized. “Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'” (Acts 8:37)

Philip explained to the eunuch that in order to be properly baptized, he must first believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Upon his confession of faith in Jesus, Philip took the eunuch down into the water and baptized him.

Over the centuries, there have been many religious groups and denominations that have created doctrines concerning baptism. There are those who baptize infants and adults in various types of ceremonies. However, the only New Testament doctrine for baptism is a “believer’s baptism.” A “believer’s baptism” is when a person has reached an age where they clearly understand that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for their sins, God raised Him from the dead, and they receive Him as their personal Lord and Savior. Scripturally, only then can they receive New Testament baptism.

After God raised Jesus from the dead, Jesus took His place as the head of the church. The Bible says that He was the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29), the firstfruits into the Kingdom (1 Cor. 15:20), and the head of the church (Eph. 1:22). Once this was accomplished, anyone who believed in Jesus would be born again and thus become a candidate for baptism. Although baptism does not save you, it is a way of professing publicly by showing outwardly what has taken place inwardly.

Our salvation comes by grace through faith. Grace is God empowering us so we can do what we normally could not do. We cannot save ourselves, so God gives us His grace (power) and through faith (believing God), we activate the grace of God and become saved. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8)

Without faith we do not access the grace and without His grace we are still in our sins. But, when we hear, believe, speak, and act on His Word, our faith becomes living faith and activates His grace and we receive eternal life.

I am often asked about infant baptism. Infant baptism has been practiced through the centuries, but because of a lack of teaching and confusing teaching, some have developed the thought that sprinkling an infant somehow ensures their eternal life.

While dedicating a child was common practice in Jewish culture and in the early church, the dedication was actually for the parents and family. They publicly proclaimed the blessing of God upon the child and as parents, they made a public commitment that they would be steadfast and loyal in training and teaching the child in the things of God. Salvation and dedication are two totally different doctrines.

Again, New Testament Christian baptism always followed an understood commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior. While infants and children should be dedicated to the Lord, this dedication is not what the Bible calls a salvation experience.

Once we are born again, we should publicly confess our belief and a scriptural way to do that is water baptism.

Scripture References:
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom. 8:29)

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have
fallen asleep. (1 Cor. 15:20)

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the
church. (Eph. 1:22)