The saving of Noah in the Ark of refuge which he built is likened to baptism 1. The water saved Noah and his family because it lifted them above the destruction that swept away the ungodly world in which he lived. Similarly, the waters of baptism can save us from the judgements that Christ will shortly bring upon all the wickedness of the age we live in 2.

Baptism in Scripture
Baptism is first mentioned in Scripture in relation to John the Baptist’s ministry 3. His baptism was one of repentance (this means a change of heart, leading to a changed way of life). It anticipated the baptism of the Lord Jesus and was intended to prepare the Jewish people to believe in Christ 4. Israel had already been nationally baptized into Moses when they crossed the Red Sea 5, but now Christ commissioned the apostles to baptize individual believers of the gospel, both Jew and Gentile, into his name 6.

Baptism into Christ identifies believers with the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ which, having been accomplished, render this baptism of more significance than either Moses’ or John’s baptisms, which it replaced 7.

The need for correct belief
Jesus said in Mark 16:16:

“He that believeth [the gospel] and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned [condemned]”.

Belief of the one gospel 8 and baptism are both necessary. The Acts of the Apostles gives us several impressive examples of correct belief preceding baptism:

• Acts 2:14-41 - Jerusalem Jews on the day of Pentecost
• Acts 8:12 - The Samaritans
• Acts 8:27-39 - The Ethiopian Eunuch
• Acts 10:1,2,34-48 - Cornelius and his companions
• Acts 16:14-34 - Lydia and the Philippian jailor and his family
• Acts 19:1-5 - The Ephesian disciples of John the Baptist

Are there any exceptions?
There is no record in Scripture of the repentant thief on the cross being baptized9, although Jesus promised he would be in the Kingdom. But, he might have been baptized earlier by either John or the disciples of the Lord 10. But, the example of Christ must be our guide. He said, on the occasion of his baptism: “thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” 11. There can be no exceptions; all who wish to be saved must believe and be baptized.

Christening, infant baptism and the Baptists
The Greek words for baptize and baptism mean being fully immersed. There is no suggestion in Scripture of baptism being a sprinkling with water. There are several passages that describe or imply bodily immersion 12.

Infant baptism was first heard of in the days of Tertullian (A.D. 200), who vigorously opposed the practice. The rite of infant sprinkling dates back to pagan Roman customs, when babies were sprinkled with holy water and named. Like many other pagan ideas, this rite of infant baptism was gradually superimposed on Christian teaching 13. Infant baptism belongs to the apostate church.

When the sect called the Baptists came into existence in the seventeenth century they believed the promises made to David, and looked forward to God’s Kingdom on earth, immersing only adult believers. Today, many Baptist churches believe in such doctrines as heaven-going, the Trinity and a supernatural Devil, having abandoned their earlier Scriptural beliefs. Some do not even insist on total immersion, but sprinkle with water.

The symbolic meaning of baptism
Baptism is a symbol of sacrifice and of resurrection. Sacrifice always involves death. Baptism into Christ links us with his death, which destroyed “the body of sin”. Baptism signifies death to the former way of life when we are enslaved to sin, and the commencement of a new life enslaved to Christ. Baptism also identifies us with Christ’s death and resurrection, that we might one day inherit eternal life in the Kingdom 14.

Baptism changes our position before God
When, after a good confession of the one faith 15, a true baptism takes place, Scripture teaches that our past sins are forgiven us, for Christ’s sake 16. We become “a new creature”, as Paul teaches 17. We become the children of God, and heirs of the life-saving promises made to Abraham 18. We have access to God through Christ in prayer, being no longer “children of wrath” and alienated from God 19.

At what age should baptism take place?
All the Scriptural examples of baptism are of persons capable of believing the gospel, defined as “the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ” 20. Passages such as Colossians 3 set out the responsibility of those who have “risen with Christ” to lead godly, obedient lives 21. So, the age a person is baptized will depend on his or her maturity and understanding.

All baptisms, of young or old, will be preceded by repentance 22. Some crisis of the mind will trigger the realisation that we must be baptized, as this is the will of God, and that only in Christ can we be saved 23 . All manner of circumstances, people or events can lead to this crisis of mind.

If we have not already been baptized, we need to respond to the call of Peter, as 3,000 did on the day of Pentecost, to “Save [ourselves] from this untoward generation” 24.