Baptism

What is baptism?

Baptism is an act in which a person  who has become a follower of Jesus Christ is immersed in water as a way of identifying with Jesus Christ.  Just like wearing a wedding ring indicates a person is married, being baptized demonstrates that a person has committed their life to Jesus.  Baptism does not make a person a Christian, it is something we do to tell others we are a Christian.

Who should be baptized?

The short answer is new believers.  In the New Testament, new believers were baptized soon after their decision to become followers of Jesus.  There is no record in the New Testament of an infant being baptized.  Only persons who had already accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord are baptized.  As stated above, this was for the purpose of marking themselves as followers of Jesus.  The question is often asked why Baptists don't baptize babies.  The issue is not infant baptism vs adult baptism.  The issue is infant baptism vs believers baptism.  In the New Testament only believers were baptized.

Why do Baptists baptize by immersion?

Baptists baptize by immersion instead of pouring or sprinkling for several reasons.  One, the New Testament word translated "baptize" in our English translations of the Bible means "to immerse, submerge."  Two, immersion better pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  Three, it was the method practiced in both the New Testament and the early church.