+ WHO CAN BE BAPTISED?
WHO SHOULD BE BAPTISED?
- Every person who has believed in Christ.
“Those who believe and accepted His message were baptized…” —Acts 2:41
“Simon himself believed and was baptized…” —Acts 8:13
“But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News… and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” —Acts 8:12
- At Coastal Church, we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them.
Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed.
This is different from the baptism talked about in the Bible which was only for those old enough to believe. The purpose is to publicly confess your personal commitment to Christ.
At Coastal Church, it is a membership requirement that every member must have been baptized the way Jesus demonstrated, even though many of us were “confirmed” as children.
WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTISED?
- To follow the example set by Christ.
“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” — Mark 1:9
- Because Christ commands it.
“Jesus said, 'Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” — Matt. 28: 19-20
- It demonstrates that I really am a believer.
“… many of the people who heard Him believed and were baptized.” — Acts 18:8
“We know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands.” — 1 John 2:3
WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTISED?
As soon as you have believed.
“Those who believe…were baptized…that day!” —Acts 2:41
“Then Philip began with the scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, ‘Look, here is water! Why shouldn´t I be baptized right now?’ Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The man answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” —Acts 8:35-38
There is no reason to delay. As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized. If you wait until you are “perfect,” you´ll never feel “good enough!”
