BELIEVER’ S BAPTISM:
A Guide for Families and Churches
BY DR. JOSH MULVIHILL
A s a pastor, few things brought me greater joy than to see a young person follow Jesus into the waters of baptism. It is a joyous occasion because the individual being baptized is publicly professing faith in Jesus Christ and wants everyone to know it! The desire to be baptized is noble and recognizes the biblical teaching that baptism is an important step of faith in a believer’ s life. It should not be entered into lightly or without proper preparation. Both parent and child must understand what baptism is, why a person is to be baptized, and when it is appropriate to be baptized.
WHY IS BAPTISM IMPORTANT? Baptism is often downplayed as an optional choice for the Christian. It is frequently misunderstood or minimized. Some believers view baptism as a minor addition to faith. Yet, the New Testament speaks of baptism as a major milestone that every believer in Jesus Christ is to pursue obediently. If your child understands why baptism matters, he or she will be much more interested in being baptized. Baptism is important for four reasons:
1. Jesus was baptized and commanded the church to baptize.( Matt 3:15-16; Matt. 28:18-20) His disciples must follow that which is important to Jesus and commanded by Him. Baptism is indispensable for believers. Since Jesus ordained baptism, it is properly understood as an ordinance rather than a sacrament, as it does not bring about any change in the person baptized.
2. In Scripture, baptism is regularly connected with belief and salvation. Baptism is important because it is tied to the gospel and the saving work of Jesus on the cross. Baptism reveals a person’ s theological framework since it tells us much about how one views the gospel. Baptism has no saving power, but reveals beliefs, summarizes faith, proclaims the death and resurrection of Jesus, and incorporates the believer into the church.
3. Baptism indicates a new lifestyle and a commitment to follow Christ. Baptism is closely linked with the believer’ s death to sin and new life in Christ( Rom. 6:3). Baptism provides the opportunity for the believer to testify publicly of God’ s saving work in their life and their desire to follow and obey Jesus. The work of God in salvation should lead to a believer’ s response in baptism.
4. Baptism is public. An unbelieving world tells Christians that it is acceptable to believe what they want so long as they keep their faith to themselves. Satan loves undercover Christians who are timid with their faith and quietly keep it to themselves. Baptism provides an opportunity for the believer to proclaim Christ publicly. God built a means for every believer to state publicly that they are a follower of Jesus Christ. This public proclamation is not meant to be a one-time action but a lifestyle. Thus, the Christian is salt and light and not to be ashamed of the gospel.
For Christians who lived at other periods in church history, baptism often meant persecution or martyrdom. The same is true today for Muslims who convert to Christianity. A public profession of faith through baptism is often the act that causes family and friends to ostracize or disown the new believer. For these individuals, baptism was no small matter. Those who are baptized are often tempted and under attack from Satan. Such was the case for Jesus. After His baptism, He went into the desert, where Satan tempted Him for forty days and nights. A baptism is not an empty action or a minor matter. It is a monumental moment in every believer’ s life.
YOUR ROLE IN YOUR CHILD’ S BAPTISM The baptism process provides an opportunity for parents to nurture their child’ s faith and journey together during an important milestone of life. Your goal is to help your child prepare for baptism and encourage obedience in this area of life. Consider these three steps:
The first step is to determine if your child is a Christian and can articulate the gospel message. Your job as a parent is to gauge whether or not your child is ready to be baptized. The second step is to understand the details of baptism— the why, the what, the how, the who, and
10 THE RENEWANATION REVIEW