THE MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WATER BAPTISM ~ Precious Victor Akah
Being water baptized is not being born again. One can be water baptized without being born again (even though it is not scriptural to baptize someone who has not first believed in Jesus and is converted). I was water baptized as a grown person before I got born again. After I got born again and began studying the Bible, I understood it was a mere religious ceremony recognized by men but not recognized by God, because I had not first been born again and received the Holy Spirit.
Many churches practice infant baptism and some even baptize adults who are not yet born again.
But what does the Bible really teach about Water Baptism? Let's read a few Scriptures to find out.
Acts 18:8: "Crispus was the leader of the synagogue. He and everyone in his family put their faith in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard the message, and all the people who had faith in the Lord were baptized."
Acts 10:47-48: "These people have received the Holy Spirit, just as we also did. Can anyone, then, stop them from being baptized with water?” So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days."
Acts 8:35-38: "Then Philip began to speak; starting from this passage of scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled down the road, they came to a place where there was some water, and the official said, “Here is some water. What is to keep me from being baptized?” The official ordered the carriage to stop, and both Philip and the official went down into the water, and Philip baptized him."
A careful and a close look at these three Scriptures above reveals two outstanding things: One, all the people that were water baptized had to FIRST believe the Gospel of Jesus and confess faith in Jesus, before they could be baptized. Two, they were not infants; they were grown persons, who had the mental ability to comprehend the Message of the Gospel of Jesus and make a personal decision to put their faith in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit.
So, from the Bible, New Testament precisely, we see that any water baptism done BEFORE a person accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour is a mere religious ceremony with no real spiritual value and significance, and no recognition by heaven. The real water baptism practiced and modeled in the Scripture as done unto God, and which signifies being united with Christ in His death and raised to walk in newness of life, is the one done after being saved.
"For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead." Colossians 2:12
The water baptism recognized by God and approved in the Holy Bible is the one that comes after a grown person - who has reached the age of reason - has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord (that is, born again). Any other form of baptism done before someone surrenders their life to Jesus is mere ceremony, which is not recognized in heaven by God.
Thus, being baptized as an infant does not automatically make anyone a child of God, as some individuals think. One can even be baptized as an adult and not be a born again child of God. To be born again, you must first confess Jesus to be your Lord with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. After this, you must submit to the Lordship of Jesus over your life and live in total obedience to the Word of God henceforth.
"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:9-10
Confession of faith in Jesus, confession of sin and repentance of sin comes before water baptism (Mark 1:5, Acts 2:38, Acts 16:25-34). A water baptism done before repentance of sin is not in agreement with the teachings of the Bible. You must first acknowledge your sins, confess and repent of them before you're baptized in water. That is the biblical order.
These Scriptures below further confirms and authenticates all I have said above:
Mark 16:16: "Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned." This Scripture reveals that you must FIRST believe in the Gospel, afterwards, be baptized.
Mark 1:5: "All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River." Here we see John the Baptist baptizing the people after they had confessed their sins. Confession of sins (signifying repentance and faith in Jesus to be saved) precedes water baptism.
Acts 2:38: "Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins..." Apostle Peter commands the people here to first of all repent of their sins and turn to God, followed by water baptism, for the forgiveness of their sins.
Acts 16:30-33: "He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized." We also observe here that Paul and Silas first led the jailer and his household to Jesus - to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior - then they proceeded to baptize all of them in water.
Please take note that all the people mentioned in these aforementioned Scriptures were adults, and not infants/babies. So, confession and repentance of sins comes before water baptism (Mark 16:16, Mark 1:5, Acts 2:38, Acts 16:25-34). Any water baptism done before repentance of sins is not in line with the instructions of the Bible.
You must first confess faith in Jesus and acknowledge your sins, confess and repent of them, before you're baptized in water. That is the biblical order. Even Jesus our Model, Master, Lord, and Savior, was not baptized as an infant. He was baptized as an adult. He observed the order. Even if you were baptized as an infant, now that you have known the truth, repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ and go to your church and ask to be baptized in water to fulfill the requirements of Scripture; this also applies to you if you were baptized before you became born again. You need to be baptized again now that you are born again.
NB: All through the Bible, you will never find anyone being baptized as an infant, neither will you find any grown person being water baptized who had not first believed in Jesus to be saved. You can search your Bible thoroughly if you are in doubt.
Stay blessed.
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