What Is and What Is Not Important About Baptism

by David Gibson

A tour ad stated, “Have you ever wanted to be baptized in the Jordan River?” Since Jesus was baptized there, is that the best location?

In the Bible, people were baptized wherever, but all were saved by grace (Titus 3:5-7). Since salvation is so urgent (Acts 8:36-39), is flying 5700-plus miles for a Jordan River baptism a good option?

And does it matter who baptizes us? Many Corinthians were baptized through Paul’s preaching (Acts 18:8), but he baptized only a handful of them (I Corinthians 1:10-17). Paul delegated the baptizing to keep the focus on Jesus (Colossians 2:12-13).

If you were scripturally baptized, but not in the Jordan, and your baptizer was not a well-known preacher, what does it matter?

What does matter—a lot!—is that baptism is that decisive moment when we are born again (John 3:5), we are saved (Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:15), we are forgiven (Acts 2:28), we put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), and we experience newness of life (Romans 6:4).

It is then that we can go on our way rejoicing (Acts 8:39).

But if you haven’t been baptized, what’s keeping you? (Acts 22:16)