Every Sunday at LifeWay is a special time because we come together and fellowship with God and with each other. But this Sunday is extra special because four individuals (two very young brothers and two very young sisters) will be baptized. Hallelujah! What an exciting time in their lives! God is to be praised because their parents have made it a priority to teach their children about God and the Christian faith while they are still very young. God is to be worshipped because he performed a miracle in these very young lives, giving them understanding of what is the gospel message, and they accepted the gospel message as truth.
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change when a sinner responds positively to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and accepts Christ as Savior from his or her sin. Baptism is not what saves a person. Whether one is saved or not saved is not determined by whether or not he is baptized. But the moment I say that baptism does not save, I am afraid some may conclude therefore that baptism is not important. Let it not be so! According to the Scriptures, baptism is a most important step of obedience after one believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19–20
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; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Not only is baptism a most important obedience after one has accepted Christ as Savior, but the Bible has demonstrated over and over again that a new believing person was baptized rather immediately after his or her conversion. A new Christian was baptized without delay. Check this out.
Acts 8:35–36 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” Acts 9:17–18 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized... Acts 10:45–48 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days. Acts 16:14–15 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. Acts 16:29–33 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.
One of the most important things to know about baptism is that baptism is not a choice. Allow me to explain. If one has not yet received Christ as his Savior, he doesn’t get to choose to get baptized or not get baptized. He doesn’t have a choice. He must not get baptized. If one has received Christ as his Savior, he doesn’t get to choose to get baptized or not get baptized. He doesn’t have a choice. He must get baptized. There is no choice to make when it comes to baptism. Therefore, it is wrong for one to ask, “Would you like to get baptized?” or “Are you interested in getting baptized?” or even, “Who wants to get baptized?” Baptism is not about what one likes or not like, whether one is interested or not interested, or even what one wants or not want. Baptism is not about how one feels. Baptism is not a choice.
Some define baptism as a public confession of one’s faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, baptism must be done in the presence of a group of people, for example, a church. Is this true? But what does it say in the Bible? According to the Bible, when individuals were baptized, were they done in the presence of a group of people? Or were they not? When Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch travelled along in a chariot and came to some water, the eunuch signaled for Philip to baptize him right at the spot. He didn’t wait until they travelled a little further to the nearest town or city so he could be baptized in front of a group of people. Rather, he was baptized in a desert where there were probably not many people. After Ananias laid his hands on the blind Saul at his house, something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight, and Ananias baptized him. It is not likely there was anyone else there besides Ananias when Saul was baptized for he was baptized in a home. When God opened the gates of the prison and released Paul and Silas, the Philippian jailer was determined to kill himself. But after Paul and Silas explained what was happening, the jailer washed their wounds, and immediately he and his household were baptized. It is not likely the baptisms happened in front of a group of people. Therefore, I would disagree that baptisms are public confessions. In the 21st century, baptisms continue to be held typically in churches in the presence of many people because, I believe, it is very encouraging for people to witness sinners repent of their sins, accept God’s gift of his Son as Savior, and get baptized. I get it. But according to the Bible, baptisms do not have to be public confessions. Nowhere does it say in the Bible that baptisms cannot be done in a private setting.
In conclusion, the meaning of baptism originates in the death of God’s own Son, who died in our place to pay for our sins, and who triumphed over death through his resurrection, securing for us new life in the Spirit and life with God for all eternity. Hallelujah! Let us worship our God greatly this Sunday and praise him for his excellent work in the lives of these four brothers and sisters.