Baptism - Who's it For? (part 2)

In the last article we determined that before we can know who baptism is for, we needed to see who it was not for. This article will deal with who baptism IS for.

1. Baptism is for those who have sin on their record

Acts 2:38 says “...repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...” Acts 22:16 says, “...Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins...” The clear Bible teaching on baptism is that it washes away sins. Therefore, baptism is for those who have sins on their record that need to be forgiven.

2. Baptism is for those who repent of sins

Acts 2:38 also says, “...repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...” Repentance is a change in mind that leads to a change in action. If a person is willing to turn away from their sinful lifestyle, then baptism is for them. If person is not willing, baptism would do no good for them. Therefore, baptism is for those who are willing to turn away from their sinful way of life.

3. Baptism is for those who want to becomes Christians

In Matthew 28, just before Jesus left earth and went on to heaven, he said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...” Jesus taught that disciples are made by baptizing them and then teaching them. A disciple is a Christian. Acts 11:26 says, “...and the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch...” In order for someone to become a Christian, Jesus said they have to be baptized. Therefore, baptism is for those who want to commit their lives to following Jesus as Christians.

If you have not been baptized, you still have sin on your record and you still are not a Christian. If you have not been baptized, surely you won’t let a little water keep you from heaven. We can baptize you today!

“Why do you delay? Arise and be baptized, washing away your sins.” (Acts 22:16)

— Kolton Ballance

Baptism - Who's It For? (part 1)

In the last few articles we’ve identified the purpose of baptism, and the method of baptism. In this article we will identify who baptism is for. This isn’t as simple as reading a few verses that say who should be baptized. There is too much confusion in the world that says who baptism is really for. In order to identify who baptism is for, we must first identify who it is not for.

1. Baptism is not for children.

There is a common misconception in the religious world that says children are born into sin. This is false. Ezekiel 18:20 teaches that the person who sins is the one who will be punished. It teaches that no one can inherit sin from someone else. Paul said in Romans 7:9 that he was once alive when he didn’t understand what sin was, but when he understood, he died spiritually. The fact of the matter is that children cannot sin because they don’t understand what God has asked of them in order to willfully violate it. Therefore baptizing a child does no good because they have no sins to be forgiven.

2. Baptism is not for those who are already saved.

Some believe that baptism is for a person who has already been saved as an “outward show of an inward change.” That means that someone is baptized because they’ve been saved rather than in order to be saved. The problem is that no such baptism exists in the Bible. Every time there is a baptism in the Bible it it for the purpose of being saved from the consequences of sin. Baptism is for the purpose of forgiving sins, not for the purpose of showing that you’ve already been forgiven.

3. Baptism is not for those who don’t follow Jesus.

There have been some who believe that they can be baptized and get a free pass to heaven without committing to anything else. That isn’t true either. Jesus taught that if anyone wanted to follow Him they needed to give up their previous life and follow Him (Mark 8:34). Baptism is for those who want to commit to a new way of life following Jesus. It is not for those who want an easy free pass to heaven. Being baptized means nothing if you don’t commit to follow Jesus afterwards.

— Kolton Ballance