When Should a Person Be Baptized? The Bible's Teachings about Readiness for Baptism

Some people believe that babies should be baptized to ensure their salvation. Is this what the Bible teaches? Actually, there are no instances of infant baptism mentioned in the Bible. Every case of Christian baptism in the Bible involves older believers who have met a number of requirements before being baptized. These conditions require that a person have a certain level of understanding before consenting to baptism. The conditions for baptism, as set out by the Holy Scriptures, exclude infants as they are not capable of understanding the ordinance or consenting to it.

Repentance a Requirement for BaptismJohn the Baptist preached and baptized people to prepare them to meet the Messiah, Jesus Christ. His message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 3:2 (NKJV) When Jesus’ disciples went preaching and baptizing after Christ’s resurrection, they had the same message. “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let ever one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Acts 2:38

Learn What God Requires of YouIn His commission to the disciples when He met them following His resurrection, Jesus set forth another condition of baptism. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28: 19, 20 (NKJV)

Believe the Truth of God’s WordAs part of the Great Commission, Jesus also said this, in conjunction with baptism. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” Mark 16: 16 (NKJV) Obviously, there’s no point in baptism if a person does not believe that God’s Word is true and that Jesus, His Son, came to give believers salvation.

How Old Should a Person Be Before Being Baptized?Although the Bible does not specify any age that a person must be before accepting the rite of baptism, it is something that should be done as soon as possible, once the above requirements have been met. Paul, in recounting the story of his conversion, expressed an urgency to the rite of baptism. The Lord sent Ananias to restore Paul’s sight and deliver him a message. When he had done that, Ananias urged him to be baptized, saying, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16 (NKJV)

Readiness for Baptism Based on ConditionsIt is obvious that some important conditions must be met before a person can be baptized, but once the conditions have been met, it is important that a person be baptized as soon as possible.

Sep 19, 2008 4:10 AM

Guest :

Very well written, to the point article.
I wish that all could see and believe, for salvation changes ones life perspective in every phase of life. Thus making the hills and valleys more manageable. Anne Elizabeth Kerr

Oct 4, 2008 12:13 PM

Guest :

I would just like to clarify something - not everyone who believes in infant baptism does it because they think it ensures salvation. The traditional Catholic stance believes this, but for Protestants, particularly Lutherans, who engage in the practice of infant baptism, they believe baptism by the Holy Spirit (not John's baptism, as Paul himself stated that John's baptis, the "baptism of repentance," was a completely different baptism - see Acts 19:4) is something that cannot be controlled by humans, but rather is God's work rather than human work (since the coming of the Holy Spirit is spoken of as coming sometimes before baptism, and sometimes after baptism in Acts). Baptism is viewed by these Protestants as a promise God has made to all those who have faith in Him. And who are we to say at what time faith begins to grow? The promises in our baptism are something that we cling to our entire lives whenever we have doubts. We can point to our baptism - regardless of when it happened - and say, "God promised in that baptism that Christ died for me, and I have been baptized into his family, baptized into his death and resurrection." We don't always "choose" our family, some of us are adopted into it from the time we're born - others are adopted into it much later. And the question arises - when is someone ready to "choose" to be baptized or ready to "choose" God? Some of us can't remember a time in our lives when God wasn't there - he's been there since infancy. I put stock in what God does FOR ME, not what I choose or do not choose to do to prove to others I am a child of God. This does not mean everyone who is baptized will always come to faith, but those who do have something tangible and real to cling to.

Furthermore, scripture does not exclude infants. Scripture was written at a time when the parents were all converts and would baptize their entire household into the faith at that time as well (Acts 16:15). Little is written regarding those who grew up in the faith since few had by the time most of the New Testament was written. It is also very likely that Polycarp, a disciple of John the Evangelist's, was baptized (by John) as an infant since at his martyrdom he stated he had served the Lord for 86 years, and historical documents state that Polycarp was 86 when he was martyred.

I guess the question regarding argument over baptism remains this: Who is the actor? God or humans?