Author : Tom Rainwater
QUESTION: Our children are ages seven to fifteen years old. None of them have been baptized and I am ashamed of this. However, the churches we’ve attended seem to be so preoccupied with baptizing them and not teaching them the significance of baptism beforehand. Please advise of any alternative ways of accomplishing their baptism.
ANSWER: Hello! It is admirable that you have a desire for your family to be baptized and serve God. Unfortunately many religious groups are misinformed on the Bible subject of baptism, and thus they mislead a lot of people. Let’s examine the Scriptures.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16.
“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 to be 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 went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Acts 8:36-38.
These verses emphasize that faith in Jesus Christ is necessary beforebaptism. Notice that Philip did not baptize the eunuch until he first believed with all of his heart that Jesus is the Son of God. Everyone baptized in the book of Acts was taught the truth beforehand. As the apostle Paul says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” God’s word produces faith, and faith responds by obeying that word.
“..that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Romans.10:9-10).
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38.
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” Acts 3:19.
In summary, Scripture teaches us that before we are baptized, we must believe in Christ, confess that belief, and repent of our sins.
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16).
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38).
Through baptism we are saved from our sins.
“And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you– not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience– through the resurrection of Jesus Christ..” (1 Peter 3:21, NASB)
The New Testament tells us that we are baptized into Christ. In other words, spiritual fellowship with our Lord begins when we are scripturally baptized.
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3).
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27).
“I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.”
In the context of this passage, Paul explains that he found salvation, not in himself or in the Law of Moses, but through faith and obedience in Christ. A maturing child must be able to understand this very thing: that Christ, through His death, burial and resurrection, paid the price for sin — and this he himself has the responsibility to believe and obey.
That time of maturity varies with each child, and sometimes it’s hard to determine when that might be. But for each person the decision to obey God must be his own decision based upon his own faith in Christ and his own desire to turn to him from sin. That’s why it’s so important that we teach our children young to prepare them for that time of decision. The decision to serve Christ is a serious lifelong commitment. A person desiring to become a Christian must “count the cost” of discipleship, understanding he must love the Lord more than all family and possessions and even his own life. (Luke 14:25-33; Matthew 10:38-39).
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12.)
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Romans 6:3-5.)
The image in Romans is clearly teaching immersion: We are buried in water like Christ was buried in the tomb. When we rise from the water, we are like Christ rising up from the tomb to walk a new life.
I hope what I’ve written will help you in your Bible study and your desire to help your family live according to God’s word. If you have any questions about any of this or anything, feel free to ask.
