READING • JOHN 3
Belief, repentance and a new beginning
Baptism is not an isolated ceremony. In the New Testament it follows hearing and believing the Gospel, turning to God in repentance, and choosing to begin a new life as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The command of the risen Lord
After his resurrection, Jesus commissioned his apostles to take the Gospel into the world. The KJV records his words:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15–16 • King James Version
These words put belief before baptism. A person must first hear and understand the Gospel sufficiently to believe it. Baptism is therefore the response of a believer, not something performed without personal faith or understanding.
Jesus gave the example
Jesus himself was baptized by John in the River Jordan. He had no sins to confess or wash away, yet he willingly submitted to baptism as part of doing his Father’s will.
“Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.”
Matthew 3:15 • King James Version
The account then says that Jesus “went up straightway out of the water”. The New Testament descriptions of baptism consistently present it as a deliberate act involving water and the person being baptized.
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water...”
Matthew 3:16 • King James Version
Why Christadelphians practise immersion
The ordinary sense of the Greek verb baptizō is to dip or immerse. More importantly, the New Testament’s own picture of baptism is one of burial and rising again. Christadelphians therefore baptize believers by complete immersion in water rather than by sprinkling.
Believer’s baptism
Because the New Testament places belief and repentance before baptism, Christadelphians do not regard the christening or sprinkling of infants as Bible baptism. Baptism is the conscious response of someone able to hear, understand, believe and choose.
“Repent, and be baptized”
On the day of Pentecost Peter preached openly about Jesus. His hearers were deeply affected and asked what they should do. Peter’s answer linked repentance directly with baptism.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...”
Acts 2:38 • King James Version
Repentance means a change of mind that produces a change of direction. We stop defending our own way and begin turning toward God. Baptism is the appointed beginning of that new life.
Paul: a changed direction
Saul of Tarsus had persecuted the disciples of Jesus. When the risen Lord confronted him on the road to Damascus, everything changed. Saul learned that the Jesus he opposed really was the Lord. Ananias was sent to him, his sight was restored, and he was baptized (Acts 9:17–18).
Paul later recalled Ananias saying:
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Acts 22:16 • King James Version
Baptism does not earn forgiveness
Water itself has no saving power. God forgives through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is the act of faith and obedience by which a believer identifies with Christ and begins life in him.
The Ethiopian: faith followed by action
Acts 8 tells of an Ethiopian official returning from Jerusalem while reading Isaiah 53. Philip joined him and “preached unto him Jesus”. As they continued along the road they came to water, and the Ethiopian immediately asked about baptism.
“See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”
Acts 8:36 • King James Version
The KJV includes the Ethiopian’s confession of faith in verse 37. The narrative then emphasises the use of water:
“And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water... he went on his way rejoicing.”
Acts 8:38–39 • King James Version
A joyful response
The Ethiopian did not treat baptism as an empty ritual. He had heard the message about Jesus, understood enough to respond, acted on his faith, and continued his journey rejoicing.
Cornelius: a good man who still needed the Gospel
Acts 10 introduces Cornelius as devout, God-fearing, generous and prayerful. Yet God still arranged for him to hear the Gospel from Peter. His moral character did not make the message of Christ unnecessary.
While Peter was speaking, the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentile hearers. This extraordinary sign showed Jewish believers that God was calling Gentiles too. Even after this, baptism in water was commanded.
“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.”
Acts 10:47–48 • King James Version
The New Testament pattern
BEFORE BAPTISM
AT AND AFTER BAPTISM
Hear the Gospel.
Be baptized in water as a believer.
Understand and believe its message.
Be identified with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Repent—turn from our own way toward God.
Begin a new life of obedience and discipleship.
Choose freely to obey Christ.
Continue learning, praying and following him.
The meaning of baptism
Romans 6 gives the clearest explanation. Baptism joins together the picture of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection with the believer’s decision to leave the old life behind and begin a new one.
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:3–4 • King James Version
PICTURE
CHRIST
THE BAPTIZED BELIEVER
Death
Jesus gave his life in obedience to God.
We acknowledge the old life of sin must be put away.
Burial
Jesus was laid in the tomb.
We are completely immersed in water.
Rising
God raised Jesus from the dead.
We rise from the water to begin a new life.
Result
Jesus now lives beyond the power of death.
We belong to Christ and seek to live for God.
Baptism is therefore both an act of obedience and a powerful symbol. It declares that our hope is not in ourselves but in what God has done through His Son.
Born of water and of the Spirit
Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and heard the challenging words, “Ye must be born again”. Jesus explained:
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5 • King James Version
Christadelphians understand the “water” here in harmony with the New Testament teaching on baptism, while the new life must also be shaped by the things of God. Baptism is not merely getting wet: it marks a genuine change of allegiance, purpose and way of life.
Not a magic ceremony
Baptism does not make a person automatically righteous, and it is not the end of discipleship. It is the beginning of a life in which faith must continue to grow and obedience must be practised day by day.
Baptized into Christ
The New Testament describes baptized believers as being “in Christ”. Paul writes:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:27 • King James Version
This new relationship changes the direction of life. The believer now belongs to the Lord Jesus and seeks to follow his example, relying on God’s grace when failures occur.
What changes after baptism?
BEFORE
AFTER
Life centred mainly on our own wishes.
A conscious decision to put God first.
Sin may be excused or ignored.
Sin is recognised, resisted and confessed.
The Gospel may be only information.
The Gospel becomes the foundation of daily life.
No covenant commitment to Christ.
A lifelong commitment to follow the Lord Jesus.
A decision that affects everyday life
Baptism is a serious decision, but it is also a joyful one. It will affect our priorities, relationships, use of time, choices and habits. We do not withdraw from everyone around us, but we must be careful about influences that repeatedly draw us away from God.
The baptized disciple continues to read the Bible, pray, meet with fellow believers, remember the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread, seek forgiveness, and practise the teaching of Christ in ordinary life.
Grace remains essential
No baptized believer becomes perfect overnight. The new life is a life of continuing repentance, growth and dependence upon God. Our confidence rests not in the ceremony itself, nor in our own goodness, but in God’s mercy through His Son.
A new life in Christ
Baptism looks both backward and forward. It looks back to the death and resurrection of Jesus, through whom forgiveness and life are possible. It looks forward to a new life now and ultimately to resurrection and everlasting life in God’s Kingdom when Jesus returns.
The question becomes personal
The Bible does not ask only, “Do you know about baptism?” It asks whether we believe the Gospel deeply enough to obey it. Understanding should lead to faith; faith should lead to repentance; and repentance should lead to baptism and a changed life.
The pattern in Acts
PERSON OR GROUP
WHAT HAPPENED
REFERENCE
Pentecost hearers
They heard, repented and were baptized.
Acts 2:37–41
Ethiopian official
He heard Jesus preached and was baptized in water.
Acts 8:26–39
Saul / Paul
He turned from persecuting Christ and was baptized.
Acts 9:17–18; 22:16
Cornelius and household
They heard the Gospel and were commanded to be baptized.
Acts 10:34–48
SUMMARY
1
Baptism follows belief.
The New Testament pattern is to hear and believe the Gospel before choosing baptism.
2
Repentance comes with faith.
The believer turns from the old way of life and deliberately seeks God’s way.
3
Bible baptism is immersion in water.
Christadelphians practise full immersion, matching the New Testament picture of burial and rising again.
4
Baptism identifies us with Christ.
Romans 6 describes baptism into his death and a rising to “newness of life”.
5
Baptism begins discipleship.
It is the start of a lifelong life of faith, obedience, prayer, Bible reading and dependence on God’s grace.
Chapters to read
Acts 8 • Acts 9 • Acts 10 • Romans 6
LEARN BY HEART • ROMANS 6:3–4
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:3–4 • King James Version
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