“I want to go swimming at church too!” my nephew exclaimed at lunch after a baptism service at church. He was enamored by the whole thing. He loved the crowd cheering, the water splashing everywhere, and the ability to practice his swan dive in the middle of church. He was intrigued by it, but we could tell he didn’t understand it.
Baptism is a public declaration that you’ve trusted Jesus with your life and you are committed to following him forever.
Acts 16:31-34 “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.
Driving around the United States, you will likely pass more churches than Starbucks. They seem to pop up every few miles from rural backroads to city centers. The sheer sight of this would be mind-blowing to ancient Christians, as there were almost zero public churches. The Church didn’t start as a building with a big wooden cross — it started with people.
The Book of Acts is the story of the Church. (Which means it tells the story of people.) The message and movement of Jesus had advanced far beyond Jerusalem, and it was beginning to spread to both Europe and Africa. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were preaching and teaching in Philipi during an extensive missionary journey. A Roman jailer took a particular interest in their message, so he asked some questions. As they discussed the power of Jesus, the Roman jailer was saved. Immediately, he went out and told his whole family — and they got saved too. The miracle within him refused to stay there. Thus, the jailer told his loved ones, and they all got baptized.
Baptism was their first step after their salvation. The same is true for you, but it’s helpful to understand the meaning and message behind baptism before you step into the water. It’s so much greater than a mere swim in a church.
Here are three principles to help you understand baptism better:
It Starts in the Heart
Jesus saves you. Baptism is merely a step of obedience. It’s a representation of what Jesus has already done in your life. There is nothing magic about the water. The water does not save you. Your heart changes first, then baptism follows. The act of baptism is just a way to celebrate the fact that Jesus has already saved you publicly. It’s an outward expression of an inward transformation.
Baptism Doesn’t Save, But It’s Still Significant
Baptism is like a wedding ring; it’s an outward symbol of commitment. When someone wears a ring, the world knows that they are committed to a relationship. Commitment is significant, which is why baptism is also significant. Furthermore, Jesus clearly instructs us to get baptized to show our commitment (Matthew 28:19-20). Baptism reveals to the world that we are making our faith in Jesus public. Jesus publicly showed His love for us, so we should do the same.
Walking With Jesus Is Not a Race
Baptism is everyone’s next step after salvation, but it’s completely okay to take some time to evaluate yourself. You want to get baptized when you truly know that your commitment to Jesus is real and your faith is certain. Don’t get peer pressured into taking the plunge, or get so caught up in the emotion of the music that you do it before you’re ready. You wouldn’t rush into a marriage ceremony, so don’t feel the need to rush into Baptism. Your walk with Jesus is not a race.