Baptism - When should we be baptized?

When should we be baptized?


Baptism is the first step toward receiving God's favor, through which we receive the forgiveness of sins. It has been likened to the birth of a baby coming out of the womb. As our body is born from the womb and then learns about the world one by one, our spirit removes its sins and transgressions through baptism, being born again as a child of God. Then, after baptism, we learn about God's providence and the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.

Eph. 1:7-9 『In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding...』


Without receiving the forgiveness of sins, we cannot be given the wisdom to recognize God. Therefore it is against God's will to insist that baptism should be given after six or twelve months of studying. If we want to believe in God, we should be baptized first. After, we are given the opportunity to participate in God's divine nature through our life of faith.


Here are some examples of those who, upon hearing the good news of Jesus, participated in God's righteousness by being baptized.


A eunuch who was in charge of the treasury of Candace [queen of the Ethiopians] was baptized while traveling along the road, immediately after Philip had testified to him about the Christ (Acts 16:13-15). A woman named Lydia, a purple cloth dealer, received Paul's message and believed in Jesus; she, and her household, was baptized immediately (Acts 16:13-15). And a jailer, who patrolled the gate of the prison where Paul and Silas were confined, heard about Jesus. Immediately he-and his family-came to believe in Jesus, and were baptized (Acts 16:25-33). Baptism means the rebirth of our spirit and it is the starting point of our faith in God.

Through baptism, we promise God that we will repent of our past sins and that we will follow the will of God. In return, God promises that he will remember us in the time of Judgment.

Suppose there is a church that insists that someone should be baptized after six months or one year, after his faith has grown. If he dies while learning the doctrines of this particular denomination-without having the promise of God's salvation-who will be responsible for his soul?

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