Yes! How could it be made any plainer?

Neither did the thief on the cross restore what he had stolen, as the Lord directs (Ezekiel 33:15). God holds us accountable for what we can do, but He also remembers that we are dust. He will not require a physical impossibility. Could the thief have come down from the cross, he would have been baptized. Every person who is able should be baptized.

No. There is only one true baptism; all other so-called baptisms are counterfeits. The word “baptism” comes from the Greek baptisma, meaning to dip under, submerge, or immerse. There are eight Greek words in the New Testament used for applying liquids, but among those meaning to sprinkle, to pour, or to immerse, only the one meaning to immerse (baptizo) is used to describe baptism.

Jesus was baptized by immersion. Notice that after the ordinance He came up from the water. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, not on the bank as many believe. John the Baptist always found a place to baptize where there was much water (John 3:23), so it would be deep enough. The Bible says we are called to follow Jesus’ example (1 Peter 2:21).

No. Notice that Philip, a leader in the early Christian church, baptized the treasurer of Ethiopia by immersion, precisely as John the Baptist baptized Jesus. No person, whatever his position in the church, is authorized to change God’s direct commands.

Misguided people introduced other forms of baptism in direct contradiction to God’s Word. Jesus asked: Why do you transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Worship that follows human teaching is vain. Just think of it — people have tampered with the sacred ordinance of baptism to make it of little consequence. No wonder the Bible urges us to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).

A. Learn God’s requirements (Matthew 28:19,20). B. Believe the truth of God’s Word (Mark 16:16). C. Repent, turn away from sin, and experience conversion (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19).

Baptism represents the believer uniting with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. This symbol is filled with deep meaning. In baptism the eyes are closed and the breath is suspended as in death. Then comes burial in the water and resurrection from the watery grave to a new life in Christ: when raised from the water, the believer opens the eyes, begins breathing again, and mingles with friends — a likeness of resurrection. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ set Christianity apart from every other religion. To keep these three vital acts alive in the minds of Christians until the end of time, the Lord instituted baptism by immersion as a memorial. Only immersion fulfills the meaning of Romans 6:4–6.

This is like saying a baby should never try to walk until certain she will never slip and fall. A Christian is a newborn baby in Christ; that is why the experience of conversion is called being born again. At conversion, a person’s sinful past is forgiven and forgotten by God, and baptism symbolizes the burial of the desires of that old life. We begin the Christian life as babies rather than adults, and God judges us on our attitude and the trend of our lives rather than on a few slips and falls we may experience as immature Christians.

Baptism is a public testimony that a repentant sinner has been forgiven and cleansed by Jesus (1 John 1:9) and that his sinful past is behind him. People struggle under heavy loads of sin and guilt, and this burden is so devastating to the human personality that people will go to almost any length to gain a sense of forgiveness and cleansing. But real help is found only in coming to Christ, who says to all who approach Him, “I am willing; be cleansed” (Matthew 8:3). Not only does He cleanse, but He also begins crucifying the old nature of sin within you. At conversion, God: (1) forgives and forgets our past; (2) miraculously begins to transform us into new spiritual beings; (3) adopts us as His own children.

That depends on the person. Some grasp things more quickly than others. But in most cases preparation can be made in short order. Here are Bible examples: the Ethiopian treasurer was baptized the same day he heard the truth (Acts 8:26–39); the Philippian jailer and his family the same night (Acts 16:23–34); Saul of Tarsus three days after Jesus spoke to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–18); Cornelius the same day he heard the truth (Acts 10:1–48).

At His Son’s baptism He said this was His beloved Son, in whom He was well pleased (Matthew 3:17). Those who love the Lord will always strive to please Him (1 John 3:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:1). There is joy in heaven over one truly converted soul!

No. God clearly outlines this: all are called into one body (Colossians 3:15); the church is the body (Colossians 1:18); we enter that body by baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13); and the Lord added the converted to the church daily (Acts 2:47).

First. Baptism itself does not change the heart; it is a symbol of a change that has already taken place. A person might be baptized without faith, repentance, or a new heart, and would come up a wet sinner instead of a dry one. It is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit that changes the heart; one must be born of the Spirit as well as of water (John 3:5). Second. Baptism does not necessarily make a person feel better; salvation is a matter not of emotion but of faith and obedience. Third. Baptism does not remove temptations. The devil is not through with a person after baptism, but neither is Jesus, who promised never to leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and to provide a way of escape with every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Fourth. Baptism is not a magical rite that guarantees salvation. Salvation comes only as a free gift from Jesus Christ when one experiences the new birth. Baptism is a symbol of true conversion, and unless conversion precedes it, the ceremony is meaningless.