Paul and I got baptized in July of 2019. It was such a special, exciting day for us! I am writing this blog post to give glory to God and share scripture on baptism, and the meaning of it.
I was baptized as an infant, in the FALC. Paul was baptized as an infant as well, in the Catholic church. Neither Paul nor I chose to be baptized as a baby. We also baptized our first child, Juliet, as an infant, without her consent or choosing.
We honestly did not know the reason for doing this, but it was very special and important to us. Even choosing the “godparents” was well thought-out and special to us. When we baptized our baby girl, we did it because that is what we believed was the right thing to do, according to our church and tradition, but not according to scripture. We really did not know at all what the Bible said about baptism.
The scriptures say to repent and believe in Jesus, then be baptized.
“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” - Acts 2:38
I will break this post up into a few different sections for clarity.
1) Our baptism
I was saved in 2018, and Paul was somewhere in early 2019. I really wanted to get baptized for a while, but there was never really a good opportunity. I really wanted Paul to come, and started asking him in the winter of 2019 to please consider coming to my baptism. He said he was not interested in that. I prayed and prayed that he would want to come, and would even want to get baptized himself!
After some really rough times in our marriage, because I was not going to church with Paul anymore, we went to a “Weekend to Remember.” This was a biblical marriage conference that God used to completely transform our marriage. Lord willing, I will write more on this later. After this conference, we agreed to staying home from church for a while because we could not agree on where to go together.
We were doing church at home from Feb 2019 to May 2019, just seeking to know God’s word together. We would just read the Bible every Sunday, and sing hymns. It was a wonderful time to grow in the Lord together. When Easter came around, I so badly wanted to be with believers and worship Jesus with the body of Christ. Paul agreed to coming with me and he enjoyed the new church!
A couple months later, God led us to Howell Bible Church, as we were praying for a biblical church that sang hymns. We were so excited to be a part of a solid Bible teaching church. We asked if we could get baptized, and they said “of course”!
God had worked in Paul’s heart in this time and I didn’t have to ask him to come to my baptism, but he wanted to get baptized with me! Praise God!
We decided to do it at Island Lake State Park (Spring Mill Pond), as it was in the heat of July. I was emotional all day and so excited. I wanted to tell everyone, “I am getting baptized today!!” But I did not because I was afraid of being called self righteous. It still makes me sad that many people that I love do not share the joy of the Lord with me, but I pray that some day we will share faith in Christ together.
I arrived early to the park, and read Romans 6 in the car, filled with joy and excitement to be obedient to Christ in this way. Jesus was baptized when he was 30 years old! He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. (Matthew 3:13-17)
We have the honor as God’s children, to follow in Jesus’s footsteps.
“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” Romans 6:2-7
When someone repents and trusts in Christ for their salvation, they are baptized into Christ (without water baptism). They are made a new creation by the power of God (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old self has died and the new has come!
“having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” - Colossians 2:12-14
Water baptism is simply a step of obedience to Jesus, and a public declaration that you are identifying as a believer in Christ, trusting Him completely, and relying on Him entirely for your entire life and salvation. When you are immersed into the water, it is a symbol that you are dead to sin and alive in Christ! (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Most of our church family came. We gathered together, shared a meal together, and did the baptism! It was such a blessing to have our church family there. We love them so much!! It was a time of joy and celebration.
Before we got baptized, our pastor asked us a few questions, like,
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Do you believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world and rose again from the dead?
Are you committed to following Jesus for the rest of your life?
We shared our testimonies briefly, and got baptized! The significance of this is that we are publicly declaring that we are trusting in Christ and are committed to following Him until death. We are accountable to the body of Christ to keep His word, and live in a way that is honoring to our Lord. We welcome and receive all biblical rebuke from brothers and sisters in Christ, and strive to live in a way that is pleasing to our risen Lord. (Colossians 1:10)
It still makes me tear up to remember my baptism. I felt so clean, and so thankful to be dunked under water, and lifted out. My pastor said, as I went under, “you are dead to sin,” and as I came up from the water, “and alive in Christ.” Made new by the blood of the Lamb. Washed clean, whiter than snow. Our baptism day is one of my favorite days ever.
Praise Jesus!! I am eternally thankful to Him for for dying for my sins and rising from the dead and giving me new life. I am no longer a slave to sin. I am no longer walking in bondage to sin, spiritually dead, and far from God. I am a child of God, brought near to Him by the blood of Christ. I am ALIVE! Rejoice!!
I went through a few months where I would just be in awe with God, that He had mercy on me, and didn’t just kill me and send me to hell many years ago. I fully deserve to go to hell. I would just thank the Lord for giving me breath for 28 years before I actually repented. I think about all the times where I almost died in car accidents, and think of the Lord’s protecting hand in my life. He preserved my life long enough for me to turn to Him and be saved, because of His great patience & love, not because I deserved one ounce of His kindness. What mercy, what kindness, what patience. He still is extremely patient with me as I stumble along the way of following Him.
I want to clarify, that I was not saved when I was baptized. I was saved the year before that when I repented to God, and trusted in Christ alone for my salvation. My baptism was just a symbol of this new life, and a public declaration that I am a child of God, dead to sin, and alive in Christ.
For example, the thief on the cross believed in Jesus, and Jesus told him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) This person did not get baptized with water. But because he believed in Jesus, he was baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit. (Baptism of the Holy Spirit is another topic). He was not able to take the step of obedience to get baptized with water. But by faith in Christ alone, he was saved.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” - Romans 5:8-9
2) Can an infant be a disciple of Christ without being able to hear and understand the gospel, repent, trust in Christ, and commit to following Him?
Infant baptism can be a very emotional thing, and very important to the parents. I have been there! I cried at Juliet’s baptism, and was so emotional about it all. But when I think about it logically, what actually happened at her baptism? She didn’t repent of her sins and trust in Christ at that time. She was not a believer in Jesus, but a 5 week old baby. She is such a sweet blessing to me from the Lord and I adore her so much. She still was conceived in sin, just like everyone else, and had the need to be born again.
What is the point? Do people really believe that something spiritual happens at a baptism? If so, what is it? What scriptures support this? Is this a man made tradition, or truly a command from the Lord to baptize infants?
I was baptized as a baby, and went to Sunday School, confirmation, communion, and church every Sunday. Yet, I lived in sin and did not know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I never repented to God and surrendered my life to Him. I never followed Jesus. I was very religious and committed to my church, and followed all the “rules”, yet was very lost and far from God in my heart.
I “believed my sins forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood,” but they actually were not forgiven. Just because I believed I was forgiven, does not mean that I was. I never repented. I never turned from my sin to the Living God in true, genuine, godly sorrow over my sin and asked God to forgive me. (Isaiah 55:6-7, Psalm 51) I was living for myself, not for the glory of God. I was not changed into a new creation or born again. (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
This is the problem with religious ceremonies that you just go through the motions with. You just do it because it’s the “right thing to do,” although when you think about it and study the scriptures, it does not make sense or line up with the Bible.
God wants our whole HEARTS. No amount of religious works can make someone right with God in their heart. Baptizing a baby does not make that baby right with God. That baby has to turn to God him/herself and be saved. You can go through all the religious things and still be far from God in your heart. This is exactly what the Pharisees did.
“This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” - Matthew 15:8-9
This begs the question, are infants saved if they die? I believe so. To challenge this, does a baby who is not baptized go to heaven? What is the point of infant baptism? What does it actually do?
There are a few references of the apostles baptizing “households” (Acts 11:14, Acts 16:15, and Acts 16:33), which could possibly have included infants. To say that because of this, we baptize infants, is a huge assumption, and is going beyond what is written. There are plenty of households that have only adults and older children who can hear the gospel and believe.
We have had many conversations with ministers from FALC about many of these matters that I speak about. One minister said, “Worldly churches have a baptism pool right in front of the church, where adults get baptized in front of everyone. It is a show.” I didn’t know what to say at the time about that, but now I think, “And it’s not a show to baptize a baby in front of the whole FALC congregation?” This is hypocrisy and totally confusing that you would consider it a show to baptize adults, but it’s not a show to baptize infants.
Additionally, they consider all churches other that the FALC to be “worldly churches.” Most Bible believing churches believe in “believer’s baptism,” meaning that you get baptized AFTER you have repented, believed, confessed faith in Christ, and committed to following Jesus. Because this is what the Bible says.
Additional scriptures on baptism:
“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” - Acts 2:41
They did not go around baptizing infants. They baptized those who received the word of Christ, and believed.
“But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” - Acts 8:12
“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” Mark 16:16
“John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” - Mark 1:4-5
John the Baptist preached repentance before baptism. He most definitely did not baptize infants, as they cannot be aware of their sins and repent. Their brains are simply not mature enough to understand this! The people who followed John the Baptist and got baptized by him confessed their sins, and repented. A baby cannot do this.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
These were Jesus’ last words before He ascended into heaven. He commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them, and to teach them to observe all that He commanded them, with the promise of being with them always, even unto the end of the age. They were to make disciples, by sharing the gospel, then baptize those who believe.
3) FALC baptism:
The FALC baptizes infants. These photos are from the back of their songbook, which is what they read and use to perform baptisms.
It really seems that by this writing, they believe it is baptism which saves you and brings you to Christ. “Since also this child has in Jesus Christ become partaker of this heavenly calling, we desire to do, what Christian love demands of us, and in baptism bring him (her) unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ….” How could anyone know whether an infant has come to Christ in faith? It is completely the parents choice to baptize a baby, not the baby who decides this. Also, this is saying that in baptism, you bring him/her unto Jesus. Baptism does not do this. We can only come unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2). Receiving Christ is what makes someone a child of God, not baptism. (John 1:12). This is not okay. It is very wrong.
On the third page they quote Mark 16:16. This clearly says that whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved. Belief comes before baptism. Not baptism before belief.
There is so much scripture that says that it is by repentance and faith in Christ that saves you, and you should be baptized after this. And every single instance in the book of Acts, when someone is saved, they get baptized, as an adult. There is not one time in the book of Acts that a baby gets baptized without confession of faith in Christ. This is a man-made tradition that has been carried on, but it is not biblical.
It is odd to me that a convert to the FALC is not baptized. They do not baptize adults there at all, to my knowledge. Only infants. This really does not add up. How come a baby is baptized, but someone is not baptized when they are converted? This is completely backwards and the opposite of what the Bible says.
I know many people who told me they believe they were born again when they were baptized. So, my question is, do Catholic baptisms cause a baby to be born again too? What about the LLC (Laestadian) church baptism? What about all of the Lutheran church baptisms? What about every other denomination that does infant baptism? What makes the FALC infant baptisms valid and these other ones not?
I think many from the FALC would say, because they are the only ones with the Holy Spirit. My question for that is, “What makes you think that? Does the Bible say that your church is the only church that possesses the Holy Spirit? Or is this just something that has been passed down from generation to generation, without any facts to back it up?” It is self-proclaimed to claim to be the only church with the Holy Spirit. God did not say that. Man said that. Who do you believe?
If you just think about it, any “church” anywhere can make this claim. Anyone can decide that their sect of Christianity is the one true church. Anyone can claim that they are the only ones with the Holy Spirit. Does this make it true? Of course not! It is ridiculous to make these claims, completely based off of traditions and what the people before us said, not what the Bible says.
I think you can understand by now, that the scriptures clearly show that infant baptism is not biblical, and it does not do anything for the soul. Repentance and faith in Christ alone saves.
Now, prayers for a baby’s salvation, that is a different story. Prayer is powerful, meaningful, and important. And teaching your children who God is, what sin is, their need for repentance and faith in Christ, what the gospel is, and God’s commands to us in the Bible, this is very, very important and meaningful! And LOVING your children with abundant, unconditional love, as God loves His children.
Each, individual person must be born again to be saved. You must turn to God in repentance, and cry out as in Luke 18:13, “Have mercy on me, a sinner!” You must trust completely in Christ’s life, death, & resurrection for your salvation. When one does this, God removes their heart of stone, and gives them a heart of flesh, and makes them His child (Ezekiel 36:26, John 1:12). When this person trusts in Jesus for the full payment of their sin, and their sin is nailed to the cross, this person is now reconciled to God. All of their sin, past, present, and future, are completely forgiven, forever. This person now walks in newness of life, serving the Living God, instead of living for self.
“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” - Hebrews 7:25
“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” - Hebrews 9:13
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” - Romans 5:1
I have a more detailed gospel explanation here: https://amandakoppana.wixsite.com/website/post/the-gospel
Additional resources:
Where does infant baptism come from?
Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
What does the Bible teach about believer’s baptism?
A biblical response to infant baptism:
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