Introduction

A friend once related a story about going to a Summer Bible Camp and a young girl came up to him and announced that she had just been baptized. He was very happy to hear it and she replied by saying, “Yeah, I get saved every year.”

A lot of people who get baptized do it for the wrong reason. They think it’s the right reason but upon further questioning, it turns out to be the wrong reason. Or it may be that there was no reason at all.

Below is a list of reasons why people get baptized and then the only reason a person should get baptized…

Reasons Some People get Baptized

Everyone else is Doing it—

As a child, there were times that I wanted to do something because all my friends were doing it. And my mother’s response, each time, was, “If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you want to do it?”

Clearly, this is a far-fetched statement for my mother to make but it did resonate with me. Why would I want to do something just because all of my friends were doing it? The answer, of course, is to fit in, not to be the odd man out. ‘Go with the flow’ as some might say.

Some view baptism the same way. All my friends are doing it, so I should too. You never read about this kind of reasoning at all in the scriptures.

Peer Pressure—

This is a common reason that people use to become baptized. Several years ago, we had a couple who was part of our congregation. They were engaged to be married but he refused to proceed with the wedding until she was baptized. She did become baptized and, later, they disappeared from our congregation. I don’t know if they ever got married or not. I had followed both on social media for a time but in viewing his posts, there was no indication that he was an actual Christian. She unfriended me not too long after.

To force someone to become baptized is not true salvation. This is why God made us all free agents. We’re able to think for ourselves and decide what to do or not do. Persuasion is a big factor in conversion (2 Cor. 5:11), but we don’t force or threaten people to become baptized.

Some younger members might get baptized because their parents want them to and, primarily, to get them to stop harassing them to do it in the first place. But this isn’t true salvation.

The Preacher told me to—

Along the lines of peer pressure, this is one that gets most people confused. They believe that just because the preacher is offering the invitation at the end of his lesson, he is the one telling you to become baptized. The fact is that he, like many others, are offering the Lord’s invitation.

Looking at the final book of the bible, we have this verse, And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17) Here we have the Holy Spirt and the bride (the church) offer an invitation. The next part says, “him who hears say, ‘come’”. This refers to those who have already responded to the invitation and now are inviting others on behalf of The Lord and His church.

Let’s look at it another way. Suppose a wife hosts a party and she invites people to attend. She knows of her husband’s friends, that they would like to attend, but she doesn’t know them personally. So, she asks her husband to invite them to the party. That is how the invitation works! It’s not the preacher who offering the invitation, personally, but rather offering on behalf of The Lord.

To join the local church—

This primarily has to do with those who believe that salvation is obtained simply by believing Jesus is The Christ, the one who died on the cross for our sins. They are saved simply through belief, and on their way to Heaven, however if they want to join the local denomination, they must be baptized to “symbolize” that they were already saved.

It’s the old phrase, ‘an outward sign of an inward grace.’ It’s funny to think that you are worthy to go to heaven but not worthy to join the local congregation unless you are baptized. This is no scripture to support this belief whatsoever. If baptism washes away sin (and it does), then you simply cannot believe yourself saved.

The ONLY Reason to Get Baptized

There is only one real and true reason to become baptized and that’s to have your sins washed away. The apostle Paul, in relating his conversion to the people when he was arrested, told of Ananias’ statement to him, ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ (Acts 22:16)

It’s not to join a local congregation, or because someone told you that you had to, or because everyone else is doing it. It’s because you realize that you have sin in your life and you need to get rid of it. As Jesus stated, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Conclusion

As you reflect on your own conversion, ask yourself, “Why was I baptized in the first place?” If it wasn’t for the only reason, (listed above) then your baptism is null and void, you’re still in your sins. However, you can change that. Study the scriptures more closely and decide for yourself the right reason. If you need assistance, feel free to contact me.