Believer’s Baptism: A Guide for Families and Churches

By Dr. Josh Mulvihill

As a pastor, few things brought me greater joy than to see a young person follow Jesus into the waters of baptism. It is a joyous occasion because the individual being baptized is publicly professing faith in Jesus Christ and wants everyone to know it! The desire to be baptized is noble and recognizes the biblical teaching that baptism is an important step of faith in a believer’s life. It should not be entered into lightly or without proper preparation. Both parent and child must understand what baptism is, why a person is to be baptized, and when it is appropriate to be baptized.

Why is Baptism Important?

Baptism is often downplayed as an optional choice for the Christian. It is frequently misunderstood or minimized. Some believers view baptism as a minor addition to faith. Yet, the New Testament speaks of baptism as a major milestone that every believer in Jesus Christ is to pursue obediently. If your child understands why baptism matters, he or she will be much more interested in being baptized. Baptism is important for four reasons:

1. Jesus was baptized and commanded the church to baptize (Matt 3:15-16; Matt. 28:18-20). His disciples must follow that which is important to Jesus and commanded by Him. Baptism is indispensable for believers. Since Jesus ordained baptism, it is properly understood as an ordinance rather than a sacrament, as it does not bring about any change in the person baptized.

2. In Scripture, baptism is regularly connected with belief and salvation. Baptism is important because it is tied to the gospel and the saving work of Jesus on the cross. Baptism reveals a person’s theological framework since it tells us much about how one views the gospel. Baptism has no saving power, but reveals beliefs, summarizes faith, proclaims the death and resurrection of Jesus, and incorporates the believer into the church.

3. Baptism indicates a new lifestyle and a commitment to follow Christ. Baptism is closely linked with the believer’s death to sin and new life in Christ (Rom. 6:3). Baptism provides the opportunity for the believer to testify publicly of God’s saving work in their life and their desire to follow and obey Jesus. The work of God in salvation should lead to a believer’s response in baptism. 

4. Baptism is public. An unbelieving world tells Christians that it is acceptable to believe what they want so long as they keep their faith to themselves. Satan loves undercover Christians who are timid with their faith and quietly keep it to themselves. Baptism provides an opportunity for the believer to proclaim Christ publicly. God built a means for every believer to state publicly that they are a follower of Jesus Christ. This public proclamation is not meant to be a one-time action but a lifestyle. Thus, the Christian is salt and light and not to be ashamed of the gospel.

For Christians who lived at other periods in church history, baptism often meant persecution or martyrdom. The same is true today for Muslims who convert to Christianity. A public profession of faith through baptism is often the act that causes family and friends to ostracize or disown the new believer. For these individuals, baptism was no small matter. Those who are baptized are often tempted and under attack from Satan. Such was the case for Jesus. After His baptism, He went into the desert, where Satan tempted Him for forty days and nights. A baptism is not an empty action or a minor matter. It is a monumental moment in every believer’s life.

Your Role in Your Child’s Baptism

The baptism process provides an opportunity for parents to nurture their child’s faith and journey together during an important milestone of life. Your goal is to help your child prepare for baptism and encourage obedience in this area of life. Consider these three steps:

• The first step is to determine if your child is a Christian and can articulate the gospel message. Your job as a parent is to gauge whether or not your child is ready to be baptized.

• The second step is to understand the details of baptism—the why, the what, the how, the who, and the when. Read and discuss key Bible passages together. Your goal as a parent is to help your child understand the meaning of these passages while also providing the opportunity for your child to share his or her thoughts and feelings about baptism.

• The third step is to meet with your pastor and begin the process with your church, which may include a baptism interview, a Bible study, and the invitation for your child to write his or her testimony.

I desire to see parents taking an active role in the preparation and celebration of their child’s baptism. I pray that one of the effects will be that Jesus Christ is the satisfaction of your home—that He is treasured deeply, magnified fully, and sufficient in your child’s life. Because Jesus is the object of baptism, any discussion of the topic must be Jesus-saturated. Baptism, from beginning to end, is about Jesus. When we come to the waters of baptism, we are reminded of Jesus’ saving work on the cross and God’s eternal plan for redemption. May this experience be one that is remembered with fondness and a period of growth in your child’s life.

If you are looking for a resource on baptism, the book Believer’s Baptism: A Guide for Families and Churches is available at renewanation.org and is an excellent tool to guide you through the process described above.

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Dr. Josh Mulvihill is the Executive Director of Church and Family Ministry at RenewaNation. He served as a pastor for nearly twenty years and serves on the board of Awana. He holds a Ph.D. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Biblical Grandparenting, Preparing Children for Marriage, Biblical Worldview, and 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home. Josh is married to Jen, and they have five children. Josh blogs at GospelShapedFamily.com.