Believer's Baptism by Immersion

What Scripture says

All quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).

1. Acts 2:38

   Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

   The order is fixed: repent FIRST, then be baptized. Infants cannot repent.

2. Acts 2:41

   Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

   Those who received the word. Reception precedes baptism.

3. Acts 8:12

   But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

   Believed THEN baptized. Both men and women — not children.

4. Acts 8:36-38

   As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?" Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." He answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

   Belief is the condition Philip required. They went DOWN into the water — immersion language.

5. Matthew 3:13-16

   Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him... Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water:

   Even Jesus is described as "going up directly from the water" — He was IN it. Immersion.

6. Mark 1:9-10

   In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting,

   "Coming up from the water" — Mark's language is unambiguous.

7. John 3:23

   John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized.

   John needed "much water" to baptize. Sprinkling does not require much water.

8. Romans 6:3-4

   Or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

   Baptism pictures BURIAL. Burial means going under. Immersion is the picture; sprinkling is not.

9. Colossians 2:12

   having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

   Buried in baptism, raised through faith. The order — and the action — both matter.

10. Acts 16:30-33

    and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.

    The Philippian jailer's household — they SPOKE the word to all in the house, all believed, all baptized. Not infants — hearers.

11. 1 Peter 3:21

    This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

    Baptism is "the answer of a good conscience" — which requires conscious response. Infants cannot answer.

12. Galatians 3:27

    For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    Baptized into Christ. The action and the relationship are one event of confession.

Further reading

• BFM 2000 Article 7 — Baptism and the Lord's Supper →

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