I believe we often baptize people before they’ve been properly taught. But then again, it’s often hard to determine what a person should know before they are baptized. Since baptism is only the beginning point, it is only necessary those who are baptized have basic understanding of Christian theology, doctrine, & practice. But what exactly constitutes “basic understanding”? What do people need to know before being baptized? I’m certain I can’t give an exhaustive answer, but perhaps this post will help you as you think through this question.
Anticipating the Objection
First, “What about the people on the day of Pentecost or the Ethiopian eunuch or Cornelius? It doesn’t seem like they were taught much before their baptisms.” That’s a very pertinent question. The answer is quite simple. 1st century Jews, proselytes (Gentiles who had become Jews), & God-fearers (Gentiles who had not become Jews, but worshiped God) were knowledgeable about God, sin, atonement, the coming Messiah, & His coming kingdom. In fact, the gathered Jews on Pentecost Acts 2 were probably far more knowledgeable about the God of the Bible than most mature Christians are today.
When Peter explained they were speaking in tongues because, “This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel,” the people understood what he meant. They understood judgement was about to come upon them because they had “crucified and killed” the Lord Jesus Christ. They understood they needed to save themselves from that crooked generation Acts 2:40. Which is why they asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37 and why 3,000 of them responded when Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” Acts 2:38. There is a vast difference between teaching an ordinary person in 21st century America and teaching a Jew (or someone who followed the Jewish religion) in the 1st century world. That doesn’t mean it should take years of in-depth study to prepare someone for baptism, but it does mean they need to have a basic understanding of a few things before being Baptized.
1. They Need to Know About Jesus
First & foremost, baptism ought to be motivated by a love for Jesus. Baptism ought to be a response to what He did on the cross. If a person only understands the need to be baptized in order to go to heaven when they die, but doesn’t have a basic understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done, then they don’t have the knowledge needed to be baptized. The Ethiopian eunuch “had come to Jerusalem to worship” Acts 8:27. He understood about sacrifices and he probably understood about the coming Messiah. So Philip started with the passage in Isaiah, “told him the good news about Jesus” Acts 8:35. Philip told him the Messiah had come & He was the final sacrifice for sins. People need to hear “the good news about Jesus.”
They probably need to understand something of,
- His Abrahamic & Davidic heritage,
- His deity,
- His incarnation,
- His sacrificial death,
- His resurrection,
- His reign at the right hand of the Father,
- and most importantly, His love.
They need to understand His blood brings about things like redemption, reconciliation, forgiveness & sanctification. Yes, I know those are deep subjects, but they are essential elements of the gospel. And they aren’t as complicated as you might think. Over time, each of those points could be explained in such a way even a child could comprehend them.
But I’m afraid we are often in such a hurry to get people in the water, their baptism is more of a response to our pleading than a response to Christ’s death. People need to know about Jesus before they are baptized.
2. They Need to Know About Their Lostness
Before someone is baptized, they needs to know they stand guilty before God. They needs to know, because they have chosen to join sinful humanity in rebellion against God, they are dead in trespasses & sins Ephesians 2:1. They needs to know they have “made God angry” and is “going to be punished like everyone else” Ephesians 2:3, CEV.
They need to understand they cannot do anything to atone for there sins. They cannot make up for the evil done by doing a bunch of good deeds. The only hope is for God to have mercy on & show them grace. The ONLY way that will happen is through Jesus.
Baptism is meaningless for someone who thinks, “I’m a pretty decent individual. I don’t think God sees me as being wicked or an evildoer.” It is only when “godly grief produces a repentance” 2 Corinthians 7:10) that an individual is ready to “appeal to God for a good conscience” 1 Peter 3:21 in baptism. Baptism is asking God – in faith – to remove sins through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6). Until people know about their lostness, they’re not ready to be baptized.
3. They Need to Know the Commitment
They Are Making Last, but certainly not least, people must know what they’re getting into. Jesus said a person must first “count the cost” Luke 14:25-33 before becoming His disciple. People need to be told what is going to be expected of them and what they are going to have to give up as disciples of Jesus.
Not only should those being baptized understand they are dying to sin Romans 6:1-7, they also need to understand something about the church. Acts 8:12 says, “When they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” We have to teach people about the kingdom and the obligations that go along with being a citizen of the kingdom.
Among other things, being converted to Christ is being recruited to the cause of Christ. Until they know what that means, they’re not ready to commit to a Christian lifestyle.
Bottom Line
There is much more that could be said on this issue; and at the same time, I don’t want to give the impression someone needs to be a Bible scholar before being baptized. But the fact of the matter is, the decision to be baptized should not be based on emotion or evangelistic pressure.
The decision to be baptized should be based on having been taught what it means to be a disciple of Jesus: Matthew 28:18-20.
I love you & God loves you,
Wes McAdams
www.radicallychristian.com
PS: Learn about the Bible by mail or online – for free! Learn in your home, at your pace, with “pen-pal” helpers and online friends – with no one knocking on your door. Begin learning today about the extraordinary ways the bible can change your life.
