Expert: Dr Don Howe - 3/23/2011

Question
I am looking into being baptized, but I am a little confused on the issue. Is it a commandment to be baptized? Meaning, If I don't get baptized, will I not be accepted into heaven? Also, upon receiving baptism, do I have to be baptized in front of the whole church? Or can it be a private setting?

I appreciate you taking your time out for me.

Answer
Casey, thank you for your question. This is a good question and many people go to war over such things like baptism.

  You asked “I am looking into being baptized, but I am a little confused on the issue. “ Casey, you have not said anything about accepting Jesus as your Savior and Lord, that he died on the Cross for your sins, and  serving Him. You have to repent of your sins first and then comes baptism. Look what Apostle Peter said in Acts 2:38 states “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.”  Casey, will see that we have to repent. which  does not mean to feel sorry, but it means to change one’s mind or direction - they had thought a certain way about Jesus before (considering Him worthy of crucifixion), now they must turn around their thinking, embracing Him as Lord and Messiah. Repentance must never be thought of as something we must do before we can come back to God. Repentance describes what coming to God is. You can’t turn towards God without turning from the things He is against.

  So Casey, you have repented of your sins, but you did not state that in your question. But I must assume you have, but I gave you just one of the biblical texts which tells what we must do and the order to do them.

  Casey, you asked  “Is it a commandment to be baptized? Meaning, If I don't get baptized, will I not be accepted into heaven?” Lets look at the word of commandment which in the Greek is entolē which means an  order, command, charge, precept, or injunction. Peter in Acts 2:38 stated “each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” After repenting of your sins, each person who repents be (this is an order, command, charge, perecept) be baptized. So this is a charge after repentance. So for some people it is considered a commandment, but I like to see is an order, charge, command, or precept that God has given. And most evangelical, bible believing and preaching churches are going to require a new believer to be baptized, which is an ordinance of the New Testament Church.
  So you do need to be baptized if you are truly repentant of your sins. As an ordinance of the church, they will require you to come in front of the church  to be baptized which is an true expression of change in your life, but the baptism gives the congregation of believers a chance to celebrate with new believer in the change in his life. So do not feel like  baptism is putting you on exhibition, but it is a celebration of a new birth for the believer. And if the new believer is truly repentant of his sin, he will willingly seek to be baptized.  

  Casey, you asked “If I don't get baptized, will I not be accepted into heaven?” This is hard to answer because I do not know the mind or heart of God. But again, if you are truly repentant of your sins, you will be wanting to be baptized. But if you are not baptized this will not keep you out of heaven (this will be God’s responsibility to have final say yes or no on this), but  if you are not truly repentant of your sins and have not asked Jesus to be your Savior and Lord (this for sure will keep you out of Heaven).

  Casey, think about this question?  What happens when a person accepts Jesus on their deathbed (or on a battlefield) and cannot be baptized by immersion?
Before considering baptism for such a person, we must first consider whether it is possible for a person to get right with God at the “last minute.” This depends on the person’s “heart” (their true attitude toward God). Since God knows the state of everyone’s heart, He will make the right decision. It probably hinges on whether the person neglected getting right with God from ignorance or because they did not want to give up their favorite sins (God will have final say on this). The Bible tells us about these people, who fall into one of two categories:

  The first category—seeking God.

Jesus told a “parable” (an earthly story intended to teach a heavenly meaning) in Matthew chapter 20, verses 1-16. It is about a landowner seeking to hire laborers. In the parable, those laborers hired near the end of the workday (the “eleventh hour”) are given the same wages as those hired at the beginning of the workday. This story teaches us that those people who get right with God at the end of their lives can make it into heaven on an equal basis with those who got right with God earlier in their lives. We also know that God has a desire for all people to be saved (see 1 Timothy chapter 2, verse 4). Therefore, we know that God will accept someone who comes to Him late in life, if their heart is right and they are sincerely seeking to get right with Him. However, notice that the story implies that the “eleventh hour” laborers were seeking employment all along but were not able to find any until the eleventh hour (see verses 6-7). This would be like someone who sought God through their whole life but was only exposed to bad religion or cults, and only finally found the truth at the end of their lives.
  
  The second category—ignoring God.

Again using the same parable as an example, notice that the landowner did not hire laborers who avoided work and who did not make themselves available in the marketplace to the landowner. The landowner only hired those people who were looking for work. Also notice that the landowner did not hire anyone at the last minute—just the last hour. Therefore, it makes sense that people who avoid God throughout their lives and only go through the motions to be saved as a way of getting “fire insurance” will be rejected by God (not “hired”). Perhaps a more accurate portrayal of the fate of such people would be that of the foolish virgins in the parable recorded in Matthew chapter 25 verses 1-13. There, the foolish virgins did not prepare themselves for entrance into the wedding feast (heaven) when they had the time. Although they had some “advance warning” and thought they would be allowed in, they still found themselves locked out. (In many cases, the real reason people put off getting right with God is that they do not want to change their lifestyle. Therefore, they put off the decision until they no longer have much life to give up. Unfortunately, they may put it off until it is too late.)
For these reasons, we know that some “eleventh hour” conversions of people may be successful. Although the Bible is silent regarding “eleventh hour” baptisms, it would be consistent with God’s character as revealed in the Bible to give grace to those people who had been seeking Him, but discovered the truth too late to be baptized correctly. However, we do not know this. Therefore, I  urge everyone to get right with God while they have the chance to do so in a way that leaves no doubt, since none of us knows when our personal timeline will end. Again, this up to God.

  Casey you stated “Also, upon receiving baptism, do I have to be baptized in front of the whole church? Or can it be a private setting?  Usually, most church require baptism to be in front of the whole congregation so they can celebrate with the new believer his changed life. But some pastor’s will allow private baptisms so you need to ask your pastor on this.

  I hope this helps.

Blessings,

Dr Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD