Updated:- 2023-10-31
Deciding When Should Water Baptism Happen
Is there any biblical guidance as to when should water baptism occur for a person? Should a new convert attend classes before baptism? According to the Bible, at what time should a person experience water baptism?
According to the Scripture, after a person has heard the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven if such a one believes, he or she is ready for baptism.
The Bible says nothing about classes before water baptism that teaching crept into the church through religion.
If a person believes with all his heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then at such time the person is a perfect candidate for water baptism.
Apostle Philip’s experience with an Ethiopian Eunuch shows this to be true. The eunuch read a portion of the Scriptures by Isaiah the Prophet, but he didn’t understand it.
Like most Scriptures, someone has to explain it. Nevertheless, the Lord sent Philip to the eunuch for that very purpose.
What is Preventing Your Baptism?
“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?“
Acts 8:36
Did you observe his concern? He wanted to know what was the one thing that was preventing his water baptism.
What is preventing you from experiencing baptism?
Then, Apostle Philip addressed his concern.
When Did Water Baptism Occur For These?
“… 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.
Acts 8:37
Are you waiting for your baptism and do you believe the identical thing as this eunuch?
“[He] commanded the chariot to stand still: [then] they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”
Acts 8:38
Similarly, the actions of Saul of Tarsus, after his experience en route to Damascus, also revealed his beliefs about Jesus, (Acts 9:1-19).
The revelation that he had on the road to Damascus plus Ananias’ exposition concerning Jesus Christ propelled Saul of Tarsus to experience water baptism.
“And straightway [Saul] preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 9:20
Lastly, Apostle Paul’s encounter with twelve brethren in the Upper Coasts of Ephesus reveals that they were only baptized according to the Baptism of John, (Acts 19:1-3).
At What Time Should Baptism Happen?
But when he explained that John encouraged them to believe on Jesus because he is the Son of God, they believed and he re-baptized them in the name: Jesus Christ.
“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:4-5).
But I want to reiterate that the Scriptures show that water baptism occurs after a person believes in Jesus Christ. When such a one believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the same qualifies for water baptism.
The Ethiopian Eunuch believed that Jesus was the Son of God, then he received baptism. Saul believed the identical thing before his baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
When Should Water Baptism Happen For Believers?
This we are aware of because immediately after his baptism he received the Holy Ghost and he preached.
He preached to the Jews that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Finally, how you receive the Word of God is always a function of what you believe. Anyone who gladly receives the Word of God will always believe it, (Acts 2; 41).
Then, if you believe this word that Jesus Christ is the Son of God then get baptized.
There is no place in the Scriptures where anyone believes in Jesus Christ and has to attend any class of any kind before that person is baptized in water in the name of Jesus.
What if, that person dies while attending classes before he or she receives baptism in water? What then? There is no repentance in the grave.
As soon as you believe that Jesus is the Son of God without any doubts you should be baptized in water calling on his saving name.
