Why Is Baptism So Important? Series

2. Who should be baptized? Answer: Only BELIVERS.

The pattern revealed at several places in the New Testament is that only those who give a believable profession of faith should be baptized. This view is often called “believers’ baptism,” since it holds that only those who have themselves believed in Christ (or, more precisely, those who have given reasonable evidence of believing in Christ) should be baptized. This is because baptism, which is a symbol of the beginning of Christian life, should only be given to those who have in fact begun the Christian life.

“Those who accepted [Peter’s] message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41).

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).

Should infants be baptized? Answer: NO, INFANTS CANNOT PUT THEIR TRUST IN JESUS.

Some Christians do believe that baptism is rightly administered to all infant children of believing parents. Their arguments include:

• Infants were circumcised in the OT

• Baptism is parallel to circumcision

• Household baptisms

We are nowhere told that infants were included in the household baptisms in the book of Acts. In fact, the evidence points in the opposite direction, since the text in some cases explicitly states that baptism was given to those who responded to the message. For example, in the case of the Philippian jailor, we read, “[Paul and Silas] replied [when asked by the jailor, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ (v. 30)], ‘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” (Acts 16:31-32). This explains why his household could be baptized—they were old enough to hear the Word.

How old should children be before they are baptized? Answer: They should be old enough to give a BELIEVABLE PROFESSION OF FAITH.

It’s impossible to set a precise age that will apply to every child, but when parents see convincing evidence of genuine spiritual life, and also some degree of understanding regarding the meaning of trusting in Christ, then baptism is appropriate.

3. Why should a person be baptized?

Answer #1: Not to receive SALVATION.

Baptism is like a wedding ring. It’s possible to be married and not have a wedding ring; also, it’s possible to wear a wedding ring and not be married. Though baptism receives high priority in the New Testament, it is never considered necessary for salvation. It’s possible for a person to be saved and not baptized. It’s also possible for a person to be baptized but not saved.

To say that baptism or any other action is necessary for salvation is to say that we are not saved by faith alone, but by faith plus a certain “work,” the work of baptism. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

The argument that baptism is necessary for salvation is very similar to the argument of Paul’s opponents in Galatia who said that circumcision was necessary for salvation. Paul’s response was that those who required circumcision are preaching “a different gospel”: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all” (Gal. 1:6-7a). He spoke very severely to those who attempted to add any form of obedience as a requirement for justification: “You who are trying to be justified by law [works] have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace” (Gal. 5:4). Therefore, we must conclude that no work is necessary for salvation. And therefore baptism is not necessary for salvation.