Every time we have sign-ups for baptisms, we get a lot of questions about how to know if a person is ready to be baptized. Since there are a lot of differing opinions on what baptism is and when a person should be baptized, we thought we’d try clear the water (pun intended) and simplify things a bit.
Below are the two primary questions to consider in deciding if/when you should be baptized:
1. Are you a Christian?
This question is actually very different from “did you grow up in church?” or “are you a morally upright person?” The question is, do you have a relationship with Jesus that includes a knowledge of your sin, a remorse over your sin that leads you to trust in Jesus for forgiveness, and a desire to see his will as being the most important thing in your life. If these things are true of you, you're probably ready to be baptized. But if you’re not already a Christian, being baptized will not magically turn you into one.
2. Have you been baptized since becoming a Christian?
The pattern in the Bible is that a person is baptized after becoming a Christian. So if you are a Christian but haven’t been baptized since becoming one, we encourage you to participate in baptism. If you were baptized earlier in life, but it was before you had a genuine relationship with Jesus, we also encourage you to be baptized now that you have become a Christian. If you have been baptized since becoming a Christian, there is no need to be baptized again.
If you have considered the above questions, and want to be baptized at our next Baptism Gathering, you can sign up here. If you have any other questions about baptism or becoming a Christian, feel free to contact us.