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| When is the right time for me to be baptized? |
The leaders of many denominational churches determine the time for baptism for their members. Before the time, they are taken through a series of studies for about three months and even more. There are at least two dangers associated with this. Before discussing these dangers, here is an extract of conversation from a bible study that took place between a Christian brother and a prospect.
Christian brother: Are you baptized?
Prospect: No
Christian brother: When will you get baptized?
Prospect: Our leaders are teaching us for three months before the following week all of us will be baptized.
Christian brother: So your pastors determine when you should be baptized right.
Prospect: not like that but they say we should understand some important things in the bible before baptism.
A second one
Christian brother: when will you be baptized?
Prospect: Errr I want to finish high school before.
Salvation is from God alone. So if someone determines the time of baptism for you, the person and not God is trying to save you. It means the person has the power to save, which is impossible. No man has the power to save; this is a teaching and commandment from men. Again do not endanger yourself by prolonging your baptism after you heard the good news and believed.
One cannot understand the whole counsel of God before baptism. The apostles were commanded to baptize those who believe the gospel they preached and after that continue to teach them the will of Christ.
(Mat 28:19-20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
In this life, two things are inevitable; death and the coming of Jesus Christ. The time of Christ’ coming, no one knows and the time of your death, you do not know. After death judgment, you cannot do anything about your salvation again.
(Heb 9:27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment
(Mar 13:32-33) But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
What if you die before the set date? What if you die before you complete high school? The truth is that if you do not baptize before you die, you are still with your sins, in other words, you are not a child of God. So, you see how serious this is! I will show you in the scriptures the right time of baptism.
When the message pricked the hearts of the people gathered on the day of Pentecost after Peter preached the gospel of Christ to them, they were baptized the same day.
(Act 2:41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The Samaritans who received the gospel message through Philip were baptized without delay
(Act 8:12) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized the same day after believing the message of Christ preached by Philip the evangelist when he was returning from Jerusalem to Ethiopia after worship.
(Act 8:38) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Saul (later named Paul) was advised not to delay his baptism
(Act 22:16) And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Cornelius and his household were baptized the same day that they received the word of God through Peter and they asked him to stay for some days.
(Act 10:47-48) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Lydia was baptized the same day (Sabbath day) and besought Paul and his companions to abide by her.
(Act 16:14-15) And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
The Philippian jailer and his household were baptized the same hour of the night they believed the message of Christ.
(Act 16:33) And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
All the above baptisms happened the same day; the Philippian jailer was baptized in the night “the same hour”. When the gospel is preached unto you and you believe there is no need to delay or defer your baptism! this is the right time for baptism. As I said earlier on, no knows the time that Christ will come and the day of one’s death. Let no man lead you to distraction and do not deceive yourself to face eternal punishment. Behold the truth!
All scriptures are taken from the King James Version (KJV).
For questions and further studies get in touch with the Church of Christ nearest you!.
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