WHo should be baptized?
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Every person who has believed in Christ.
According to the scriptures, those who believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross to save us from our sins should be baptized.
Once a person believes in Jesus, repents of their sin, and commits to live for Christ, baptism is the next step. Repent means to “turn the mind”. It’s making a U-turn in the way we think and live. Instead of living to please ourselves, we are committing to live to please God. Look at these examples from the book of Acts, a book in the bible that tells the history of the early church.
“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
Acts 2:41
“But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12
“Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.” Acts 8:13
“As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water! What prevents me from
being baptized?’ And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.” Acts 8:36-38 (NASB)
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what about babies?
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Do babies need to be baptized?
Since baptism is for those who have believed and repented, we do not practice infant baptism. An
infant cannot believe. An infant cannot repent. A baby does not need to be baptized.
While we do not baptize infants since that is not what is found in the scriptures, there is nothing in
the bible that speaks against “dedicating our children to the Lord”. This is really more of an
opportunity for parents to dedicate themselves to the rearing of their children in the Lord. Ephesians
6:4 tells parents to bring their children up “in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Dedication of
a baby is a commitment of parents to raise the child in a godly fashion, not a child’s personal decision
of faith. Our ministers and elders are happy to pray over new parents and their baby—to thank God for the blessing of the child and ask for His guidance in raising the child to know Christ.
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Can a child be baptized?
Yes! However, keep in mind that baptism is appropriate for those who have made a personal decision
to trust in Christ alone for salvation. Every child matures emotionally and spiritually at a different
rate. There is no right or wrong age for a child to be baptized. We just want to make sure they are
mature enough to place their faith in Jesus and understand the true meaning of baptism. We have
some helpful resources to assist parents in ensuring their child is ready to respond to Christ in baptism. We also are willing to talk with you and your child to help them understand this life changing decision.
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What happens to children if they die before they are old enough to make a decision about
being baptized?
We believe these children will be received into the eternal presence of Christ. The bible teaches that
eternal condemnation comes to those who have willfully sinned. No infant is capable of ignoring God’s truth. A young child cannot understand what God has revealed and then reject that truth. Upon the event of their tragic death, children will be received into the presence of God.