Click here & read online our monthly newsletter!

Questions about baptism and answers
The biblical baptism -by means of immersion- symbolizes the dying of one's life of sin (under water) and the rising in the Body of Jesus (rising from the water). When you grow in knowledge about the Bible and in faith people sometimes ask you: 'do you want to be baptized ?". And of course a lot of questions 'pop up', like:
  • What does this baptism symbolize ? [now you know!]
  • Why is baptism by immersion necessary ?
  • What are the consequences of baptism ?
  • What will happen before, during and after the baptism ?
  • Is there more after baptism or am I ready to go to heaven ?

    • Jesus: also baptized by immersion in deep water

    This short study tries to deal with such questions.

    The history of baptism
    The biblical baptism is done by immersion. This means: people that are to be baptised should be going underwater completely. This of course is also what the word 'baptism' is about.

    Later in history -about three centuries after Christ- the Roman Catholic Church has started sprinkling ill priests that had very short life-prospects. But some of these 'sprinkled priests' didnot die. And in this way the monks have decided to leave biblical baptism by immersion to start sprinkling people instead.

    It was the same Roman Catholic Church that went even further than 'the unbiblical sprinkle'; about one or two centuries later on 'baby-sprinkling' was introduced. And this 'baby-sprinkling' is an even worse unbiblical act, because all people that are to be baptised have to know what they believe and a baby doesn't know anything... The unbiblical 'sprinkle' got an even worse unbiblical act: 'the baby-sprinkle' born from fear and human-tradition.

    Even a number of Protestant Churches have copied these unbiblical traditions; they also 'sprinkle' people and babies instead of baptising and baptising when knowing and believing. Later on these churches ask 'a confirmation of believe', but still they do not baptise!!!

    Baptism symbolizes the dying of an old - and rebirth of a new and clean life
    Romans 6:4     'Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.'

    1 Peter 3:21 'The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:'

    From these two Bible-verses we know, that baptism means we are buried with Christ into death, but also that we are raised in a new and clean life and with a good conscience.

    When should a person be baptized?
    Maybe you have been thinking about being baptized and maybe some persons have asked you if you wanted to be baptized, but you are only ready for baptism when you -and only you- are ready for it!

    You are really ready when:

  • You know who God is, who Jesus is and who the Holy Spirit of God is and
  • You know what 'the Gospel' is about and
  • You not only know them and what the Gospel means, but also when you believe what you know

    So: when you believe God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit exist and when you really believe a) the Sacrifice Jesus made at the Cross can save you from sin and by b) accepting his Sacrifice that you can receive eternal life [=the Gospel!], it is time to be baptized!

    Philip & de Ethiopian Chamberlain (Acts 8:30-38)
     'And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" And he said, "How can I, unless some man should guide me?" And he besought Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the Scripture from which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so opened He not His mouth. In His humiliation, His judgment was taken away. And who shall declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." And the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?" Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What doth hinder me from being baptized?" And Philip said, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." And he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. '.

    Maybe you are thinking: 'is my faith large and strong enough?'. Do not despair, because even the smallest, tiniest little and weak faith is enough to be baptized and you will find out it will only grow afterward! Don't let anyone push you in being baptized; not by your parents, elders, not by family or friends. Not by anyone.

    Only you are the one to realise that you are ready and only you are the one to ask the question: 'I want to be baptized; will you please baptize me?'. Now you know what baptizing is about about you can ask for it yourself.

    How does a baptism take place?
    For a Christian God, Gods Word (The Bible), Gods Living Word (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit are the fundaments. And a Christian's actions should follow from that fundament. And of course this is exactly the same with baptism.

    God and Jesus expect people that are to be baptized:

  • to know what they believe in (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, the Gospel)
  • to believe what they know and then
  • to be baptized

    Before being baptized by immersion it has to become evident that he/she knows the fundaments of his/her believe, that he/she testifies of this believe. More than this personal testimony is not required.

    A biblical baptism has to be a baptism by immersion as you can read under 'the history of baptism'. Sprinkling persons or sprinling little children is not biblical and not the same as a baptism. Sprinkling is an unbiblical Catholic originated tradition based on fear and being practical. Only God asks us to exercise His Wil, not our wil born out of fear or practical ideas. Putting our own wil above Gods Wil is also called: 'SIN'.

    Moreover: the symbolism of the baptism is totally 'gone' when people start 'sprinkling'.

    Baptizing: in the sea, in a river, in a lake or in a swimming pool...


    One can be baptized by immersion in the sea, in a lake, in a river or in a swimming pool; anywhere where you can 'go underwater completely'. I have been baptised in the sea and I think that is really great, but the weather and the water outdoors are not always warm enough. And besides that: a save place to put your clothes in and where you can change clothes is also very nice, so a swimming pool is not very bad either!

    I think the way/where one is baptized ought to be one's own choice; as long the baptism is done by immersion. But whatever your choice is: when you are ready to be baptized have it done as soon as possible; no time to waste!

    Immediately after the baptism: a feast with small gifts...
    A baptism is concidered a huge feast because every baptised person is a new 'gain' for Jesus; a saved person and...a new brother or sister in the large family of Jesus. And that is why there are lots of flowers, cake, presents and happy music. But after your baptism-day...how do you go further ?!

    After being baptised...a Christian life has to start!
    Being a new-born-Christian -because of your baptism by immersion- your are as a matter of speaking 'walking in the shoes of Jesus'. In His Name you are baptised, in His Body you stand and His fundaments have become your fundaments as well. But what fundaments are we talking about?

    Christians follow Jesus Christ in every way:

  • Jesus has acted upon the questions and suggestions done by the Father's Spirit (Gods Wil)
  • Jesus has kept His Father's Commandments
  • Jesus has tought all his discipels from the Scriptures
  • Jesus has healed ill people
  • Jesus has given testimony of His Father: the most high GOD

    These are the most important examples I can give you about the ways of Jesus, but there are a few more 'things that are important for a Christian':

    Jesus also asks everyone that is baptised in His Name to:

    1. Believe in God -the Father of Christ-
    2. Love the people around you as you love yourself
    3. Evangelize, baptize in His Name and to teach people from the Scriptures

    You may think: 'Wow...this is not a small thing to ask from me; maybe this is too much for me to handle...!'. And yes, Jesus is not asking for something 'simple'. Choosing for Jesus only starts with the baptism - the formal choice for Jesus- but really starts with acting, living an changing accordingly.

    The Wil of God and 'the Daily Bread' for forgeviness of our sin
    With the same 'starting-points' as Jesus -the 10 Commandments and the Spirit of God- you will change; at least as you keep making your daily choice for Jesus and God. And this 'daily choice' means, that you try to follow Gods Wil and Commandments.

    The first four Commandments -also being reffered to as 'Words of God'- are about how to love God. The next six Commandments are about how to love the people around you. Combined the 10-Commandments of God are equal to what Jesus asks his followers to do:

  • To love God above anything (commandments 1 to 4)
  • To love all the people around you as you love yourself (Commandments 5 to 10)

    But it is very hard to not go against Gods Wil or treat people around us against Gods Wil. And when we offend against God Wil this is also called 'sin'.

    1John3:4 - '...for sin is the transgression of the law.'

    All people that are transgressing the Law of God have to:

    1. Realize her-/minself, that she/he has committed a transgression of the Law
      (by knowing the Commandments and listening to the Spirit of God (=Gods Voice!).
    2. Feel remorse of what they have done
    3. Ask Jesus for forgiveness in prayer

    If and when this person is really sincere Jesus will be mercyful and take away the committed result of the transgression and forgive the transgressor. This mercyful forgiveness is also called 'the daily bread'; the daily forgiveness of Jesus we need.

    Doing God's Wil with the Holy Spirit

    Matthew 7:21 - 'Not every one that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in Heaven. '.

    Romans 8:4 - 'that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.'

    We now know, that sin is the transgression of the Law and Wil of God. And we also know, that we need the Holy Spirit of God to guide us in living according to Gods Law and Wil. And yes: we do need to keep the Commandments (=the Law); read these Bible-verses of Revelations and Matthew:

    Revelation 12:17 - 'And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and he went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.'

    Revelation 14:12 - 'Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'

    Matthew 5:19 - 'Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.'

    Why starting new with a baptism and afterward keeping the Law of God?
    After the baptism and the special prayer with laying on hands we are partakers in the Body of Christ and in the Spirit of God. And God asks of us, that we bear fruit; personally and for others.

    What 'fruit' is meant here? Well, the Spirit of God we are now partakers in helps us in a personal change and with His help on the way we develop certain aspects that are very valuable in Gods Eyes.

    Galatians 5:22-26 - 'But the fruit of the Spirit is:

  • love,
  • joy,
  • peace,
  • longsuffering,
  • gentleness,
  • goodness,
  • faith,
  • meekness,
  • temperance:

    against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one another and envying one another.

    A change like that needs the Spirit -the Wil of God- and our wil to do what God requires. We have to step aside from egoistic motives and leave the 'what I want-part'. Nothing good comes from selfish and ego-centred actions...

    (Galatians 5:19-21) 'Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, asciviousness, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, quarreling, rivalry, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. About these things I tell you again, as I have also told you in times past: that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. '

    In short: God asks us to leave the egoistic, not-thinking and loveless path and instead of that to grow in the fruit of love for Him and for His Son Jesus, for ourselves and for all people around us.

    To end positively...

    Galatians 5:16-18 - You don't have to do this all by yourselves!
    'This I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.'

    By: Hein Kuipers dd. 23 december 2003
    Back to Sign2God
    Back to Reading Room
    Back to Speakers Corner
    HOME