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This coming Sunday is set as a time for people to profess their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior through the public act of baptism. Southern Baptists have set the designation as “Fill the Tank Sunday.” Those who have come to faith in Christ take this first step to show their obedience to Jesus. Yet, everyone who needs baptism is not always a new believer in Jesus.
I was brought up in a Baptist home. My parents did not attend every time the doors were open, but we were regular Sunday morning and occasional Sunday night attenders. I went to revival meetings and Vacation Bible School. My pastor was a man who faithfully preached the gospel. About age 8 I went forward at an invitation but did not understand what I was doing. Without any counseling I was scheduled for baptism the next Sunday. The only thing I remember about the experience was that the water was cold. They forgot to heat the baptistry.
By the time I was 12, I came to an understanding of my sinfulness. During a special evangelistic service, I went forward again. Similar to the previous time, no one shared Scripture or prayed with me. They dunked me again, but there was no relationship with Christ.
Shortly afterward, my teenage years turned horribly rebellious. My lifestyle began to spiral downward. My mother would pray for me. My dad would talk with me. I would insist that I was “saved” because I believed in Jesus. My belief was head knowledge, not a heart conversion.
"Regardless of how long a person has been a believer, it is always important to have baptism on the correct side of the salvation experience."
As my high school days were ending, I was even more defiant in my sinful activities. My best friend in high school shared the gospel with me. My pastor continued to preach the gospel. The Lord broke through in my life two weeks before graduation. Alone in my bedroom, for the first time, I totally gave myself to the Lord Jesus Christ. I could not have explained it that night, but through repentance and faith He granted to me eternal life. There was an evident 2 Corinthian 5:17 moment.
Four months later I answered God’s call to preach. My pastor began to mentor me. In one conversation he realized that I had become a believer after I had been “dunked.” He showed scripture where baptism is a picture of our salvation experience. Baptism should always follow conversion. Even though I had preached and had begun formal training for ministry, I submitted to scriptural baptism.
Some of the necessary elements for scriptural baptism are the proper mode—immersion; the proper authority—a New Testament church; the proper candidate—a believer. Regardless of how long a person has been a believer, it is always important to have baptism on the correct side of the salvation experience. Be obedient! Do it now!
