Biblical Baptism

The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)

Many have been baptized, but not in the way the Bible teaches. If you have not been baptized in keeping with God's instruction given in the New Testament, then all you have done is gotten wet. We learn from the Word of God that for baptism to be acceptable in the sight of God there must be the right person, the right process, and the right purpose.

1. The Right Person: One must believe in Christ and repent of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Infants are NOT capable of' believing and have no sin of which to repent; thus, infants are not fit subjects for baptism. Jesus taught that children are innocent and pure (Matthew 18:3, 19:14). There is not a single example of a child being baptized in Scripture; the practice is utterly without divine authority. Thus, if you were “baptized" as an infant, you were NOT baptized at all in God's sight.

2. The Right Process: The word "baptism" in our English Bible is translated from the Greek term that means “Immersion." To baptize means "to dip; to submerge.” It involves going to a place where there is a sufficient amount of water to be immersed (John 3:23). It is a burial (Romans 6:3‑5), which requires going down into and coming up out of the water (Acts 8:38‑39). Thus, sprinkling or pouring water on the head is not a biblical baptism. If you had water sprinkled on you, then you were NOT baptized at all in God's sight.

3. The Right Purpose: Baptism is “for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Paul was told, “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16). Jesus said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16). Baptism is not done after one is already saved, but a person is immersed in order to enter into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27), to be saved (1 Peter 3:21). If you were taught that you were saved before baptism, then you were NOT baptized "for the remission of sins;" you were NOT baptized properly in God's sight. Friends, according to Acts 19:1‑6, those baptized without being properly taught must be baptized AGAIN correctly. If you were not baptized biblically (as a penitent believer for the remission of sins), you are still in sin and need to be baptized biblically.

Go To: Infant Baptism

Return To: BAPTISM

Return To Home Page