Baptism is a Bible subject. As a Biblical matter, it deserves our careful and thorough examination. Scripture clearly explains that a candidate for baptism must “believe” (Mark 16:16) and “repent” (Acts 2:38) prior to being buried in water (Col. 2:12), and the purpose of baptism is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38; 22:16), in order that one might “be saved” (Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21) and enter “into Christ” (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27). If one experiences a “baptism,” but not as a proper candidate or in the proper manner or for the proper reason, then such a “baptism” is not actually a Bible baptism.
God’s candidates for His baptism are penitent believers (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). If one is “baptized” before having faith in Jesus Christ or before repenting of personal sins, then that individual has not actually been baptized with the baptism of the Bible. The Lord gave a proper sequence to follow, and it is not possible to retroactively say, “Well, I did all of the steps, but just in a different order.” If you were baptized before believing and repenting, then you did not experience the baptism designed by Christ.
God’s mode for His baptism is immersion (Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-4). If one is “baptized” by means of sprinkling or pouring water over the head, then that individual has not actually been baptized with the baptism of the Bible. The Lord defined baptism as immersion, both in word and in pattern, and it is not possible for us to do it in a different way but then still claim that we’ve done it in God’s way. If you were “baptized” without being immersed, then you did not experience the baptism designed by God.
God’s purpose for baptism is to obtain the forgiveness of sins, which forgiveness one did not have prior to being baptized (Acts 2:38; 22:16). If one is “baptized” as “an outward sign of an inward grace,” or as “a public acknowledgement that I’m saved,” or as an “entry requirement for a new church I’m attending,” then that individual has not actually been baptized with the baptism of the Bible, for none of those are purposes designed by God. Likewise, if one is “baptized” because “my parents wanted me to do it,” or “the Sunday school teacher pressured me,” or “my best friend was just baptized,” or even “it was the right thing to do,” none of these fulfill the purpose that God assigned to Bible baptism. After learning the truth, one cannot retroactively assign “for the remission of sins” as the purpose for his baptism, if that was not the actual reason that he was “baptized.”
Have you been immersed into water as a penitent believer in order that you might obtain salvation from your sins? If not, “why do you wait?” (Acts 22:16). Let’s talk.