Water Baptism
Why Should I Be Baptized In Water?
By Dr. John Wagner
Page 3
After you invite Jesus Christ into your heart and life you need to be baptized in water; in this lesson I discuss why it is so essential to be baptized in water.
- What is water baptism?
- When should water baptism be done?
- Biblical examples of baptized converts
Biblical Examples of Baptized Converts
The Acts of the Apostles give five examples of new converts being baptized in water. Each is from a different social class of society.
The Men and Women of Samaria
Philip the evangelist preached in Samaria and had many who believed the Gospel message.
Acts 8:12
when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
In a society where men normally dominated religious life, both men and women were baptized following their profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
The Ethiopian Government Official
Philip was then sent by the Holy Spirit to speak to an Ethiopian government official. The conversation between Philip and the Ethiopian is recorded in:
Acts 8:35-38
Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?' And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Lydia the Business Woman
On one occasion when the Apostle Paul was preaching in Thyatira, a business woman heard him and opened her heart to the Lord.
Acts 16:14-15
One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home.
Lydia already believed in God, but now opened her heart to receive Jesus as her Savior (As did the rest of her family). She and her whole family were then water baptized.
The Prison Warden
Paul was in prison for preaching the Gospel. During an earthquake all of the prison doors flew open and the prisoners chains came loose. The warden thought everyone had run away and was about to kill himself. But Paul stopped him and said they were all still there; the warden's response was to ask:
Acts 16:30-34
Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household.' Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-he and his whole family.
Crispus the Religious Leader
Many people in Corinth responded
to Paul's preaching including Crispus one of the town's religious leaders:
Acts 18:8
Crispus,the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him [Paul] believed and were baptized.
This probably cost the religious official his position in the community. Yet he was not ashamed to identify himself publicly as a follower of Jesus Christ by being baptized.
Frequently Asked Questions...?
How is baptism supposed to be done?
The word "Baptism" as found in the Bible is a Greek word that means "to immerse" when translated into English. Because of the importance of the symbolism and identification involved in baptism there is only one method that is acceptable Biblically - full immersion. The person is totally submerged in water.
Where is baptism to be done?
Baptism can be done anywhere there is enough water to immerse a person. It can be done in a church, in a river, a swimming pool, a lake, or in an ocean. Baptism must be a public ceremony. It is a public declaration of identification with Jesus Christ.
Should I be "rebaptized" if I was baptized as a baby?
As we said, baptism is an outward testimony of something that has happened inside, and a public identification with Jesus Christ. It follows logically that babies cannot understand the Gospel message and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, so it would be meaningless to baptize them.
Infant baptism is not a BIBLICAL practice. There is no record of an infant ever being baptized in the Bible. So, if you were baptized as an infant, when you accept Jesus as your Savior, YES, you do need to be baptized again, by immersion, to fully identify with Jesus Christ.
