Baptism can be a divisive issue among Christians. Some baptize by immersion, fully putting the one baptized under the water, others baptize by a sprinkling of water or pouring of water over the one to be baptized. Some baptize infants and some say one should be baptized when one can make a full confession of faith in Christ and an infant cannot make such a confession. Some say baptism is not necessary for salvation while others say it is essential. All these varying claims can cause confusion for those who are not affiliated with any church. After all, if the churches can’t figure it out how can anyone else?

I don’t think baptism was ever meant to be divisive. After salvation, baptism is the first natural step in obedience to following Jesus. If you have confessed Christ as Savior, the next step is baptism. The chances are good you are already affiliated with a local church, and they will probably talk to you about their form of baptism. If you aren’t connected with a local bible believing church, you need to do that and let the pastor know of your decision to follow Jesus.

There are three things that baptism entails and must be found in the life of the one to be baptized. First, a confession of sins. Second repentance. And third belief in Jesus.

John’s baptism followed a confession of sins. Matthew 3:6 gives us our first look at baptism in the New Testament and he writes:

“and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.”

From this we can gather that confession of sins is a necessary prelude to baptism. Without the confession of sins there would be no reason to be baptized. The confession of sins indicates the fact we need cleansing. We need washing away of our old life and the putting on of a new life. The act of confession is the beginning of the process of taking off the old self. This does not mean we need to go through the baptismal waters every time we need to confess our sins. No, once is enough. We follow the example of Christ. While he had no sins to confess, he led by example through the waters of baptism and our new life in him begins the same. We confess our sins and repent of our old ways. In the gospel of Luke, speaking of John the Baptist, we find,

…he came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; (Luke 3:3)

Repentance is the decision to change behavior. It is the act of turning away from what one had been doing and not doing it any longer. A thief no longer steals. A liar no longer lies. An addict no longer uses. Repentance results in changed behavior. Confession and repentance often go hand in hand. We confession our sins and repent of them in that we turn our back on them striving never to commit them again. We are not perfect, but we are in the process of becoming more like Jesus.

This brings us to belief in Jesus. We confess our sins and repent of them. If we stop here, we have done nothing more than turn over a new leaf. There must be belief. We must put our belief in Jesus. Without belief in Jesus, baptism is only getting wet. Baptism is the outward demonstration of the change that has taken place in our hearts. It is the act of showing the world that we belong to Jesus now. We are serious about our confession and repentance. We choose to follow Jesus. It is because of this choice we are following his example in baptism. Mark 16:16 states that,

The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.

Baptism is one of the two ordinances Jesus gave us while on earth. The second being communion, or the Lord’s Supper, which he instituted before his death. Baptism is the first step in a life devoted to obedience to Christ. If you have accepted Christ as Savior and confessed your need for him to forgive your sins and have repented of your ways, the next step is to follow him in baptism.

I have tried to stay away from the various forms of baptism and arguments various churches have over baptism. I fear that my belief leaked through onto the page. While I do have my answers for what I believe about baptism from the beginning of this post, I wanted to go to the heart. What is in our heart is essentially what leads us to the baptismal waters. If our heart is not changed, there is no need to be baptized. If we are not willing to confess our sins or repent of them, turn away completely from them, then our heart is not changed, and we have not believed. We are still lost, and it doesn’t matter what we believe.

So, where are you today? The way to baptism has three stops, confession, repentance and belief in Jesus. My hope for you is that you have passed all three. Now step into the water.

Angela