When you read the book of Acts, you can't help but notice a definite pattern in the lives of the believers in the early Church. Once a person had received Christ as Saviour, they were soon baptized. Acts 2:41 illustrates this: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized.” This follows from the command given by our Lord Jesus to His disciples: “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...” (Matthew 28:19-20)

For your interest, you may want to take a look at the following passages that mention baptism. You will notice in every one of these cases that the individuals were first saved (or born-again) and then shortly after, baptized.

• Men and women (Acts 8:12-13)
• The eunuch from Ethiopia (Acts 8:27-39)
• Saul who became the apostle Paul (Acts 9:18)
• Cornelius' household and friends (Acts 10:47-48)
• Lydia and her household (Acts 16:15)
• The prison guard (Acts 16:23-33)
• The chief ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18:8)

In the original language of the Bible, the word baptize literally means to immerse. Why does God wish for believers to be immersed in water? What purpose does it serve? To understand this we need to look at the significance God's word places on this act.

For the believer, we identify ourselves with Christ when we are baptized. He died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. In baptism, the believer is lowered under the water and brought back up again. This is a public display of his or her association with the work of Christ: His death, burial and resurrection. Coming out of the water, we are stating publicly that when we were saved, we received our new life in Christ. After our baptism, we look back on it as reminder to us of the newness of life that should characterize the child of God.

If you're saved but not baptized as the believers were in the book of Acts, I hope the Bible passages referred to in this article will encourage you. It's an important step of obedience to God's will for the believer's life.

Why should we be baptized?

• Because you want to follow Christ's example. (Mark 1:9)
• Because Christ commanded it. (Matt 28:19,20)
• Because it shows that you are a believer. (Acts 18:8)
• Because obeying Christ's command shows you know Him. (1 John 2:3)

What is the meaning of baptism?

• It is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection. (1 Cor 15:34)
• It is also a symbol of your new life as a Christian. (2 Cor 5:17) (Rom 6:4)

How are we to be baptized?

• Jesus was baptized by being immersed in water. (Matt 3:16)
• Every baptism in the Bible appears to be by immersion under water.
  (Acts 8:38-39)
• The word “baptize” literally means “to immerse under water”.

Who should be baptized?

• Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ. (Acts 2:41) (Acts 8:12)
• The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ! We do not baptize children until they are old enough to understand and believe.

When are we to be baptized?

• As soon as you have believed! You shouldn't delay. (Acts 2:41) (Acts 8:36-39)

There is no reason to delay! As soon as a person decides to believe in Christ, he/she can and should be baptized.