What does the Word of God say about baptism?

It is not enough to understand the Word of God with your mind alone. Of course, you use your mind, but it is also necessary to understand it with your heart. Therefore, I am asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may the Almighty God open your hearts to the Word, may He be with you with His Holy Spirit, so that the Word is received correctly, so that it falls like a seed in the heart and bears fruit. First, we will look at the Acts of the Apostles. The first mention of baptism in Acts is in chapter 2, at Pentecost. After 150 persons, the disciples of Jesus, received the Holy Spirit, many people of different nations that were gathered together were amazed to hear each in his own language proclaiming the great works of God, while others thought that the disciples are drunk. Peter spoke to them, he was inspired by the Holy Spirit, he preached that Jesus is Christ and Lord.

Acts 2, 36-42:

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Thus, we see how it happened the first time - first they heard the Word, not a bare word but inspired by the Holy Spirit and that Word led them to repentance and immediately after repentance followed baptism. Not after a month or a year, there was no special preparation, learning the rites, preparing special ceremonies and things like that. Baptism is preceded by repentance, repentance is very important.

What is repentance? Confessing to God that you are a sinner, apologizing, and deciding to accept the forgiveness received from God through Jesus Christ, who died to take away our sins and reconcile us to God. If you think in your heart that you are a good person and have done nothing wrong, then you cannot be baptized. You can, you know, if you want to take a bath, but it won't do you any good. If you think that you have no sins, then you do not need the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and then you do not need baptism. Baptism is for those who understand that their sins have separated them from God, and without God, their lives are worthless. Baptism is an expression of the fact that you accept the Good News. You acknowledge that through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ you have a way to be reconciled to God and have a personal relationship with Him. Full of gratitude and love to God you say: "here are the Good News for me, I was a sinner, but I don't want to live like before, wash away my sins and be my Lord." Just as David cried out to the Lord in his psalm:

Psalms 51, 1-7:

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Sin is disobedience to God. "I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" said David. Did he speak here about "original sin" that can be washed out through infant baptism? No. It is a recognition that since Adam and Eve, the first people who disobeyed God and wanted to know and experience not only good but also evil, we have been making the same mistake and the same decision - disobeying God in one way or another. Therefore, the forced baptism of a baby does not make him or her more holy. In spite baptized in infancy or not, the person will grow and will go his or her own way and commit and commit sins unless understanding will come and wish to repent and to be baptized so that they are washed away. David asked God "cleanse me from my sin" and he was forgiven, and we also ask the same thing at baptism and God has mercy on us out of his grace. He does not count serious and minor sins, does not require them to be written down and periodically listed in detail to a certain mediator dressed in certain clothes. Religion forces us to do these things. God does not ask to make so-called conscience accounting. After all, He knows much more of our sins than we ourselves realize. He knows every disobedience that we do not even remember, but He forgives everything, if we sincerely apologize and accept the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us on the cross. This is grace. This is the Good News. Jesus Christ is the way by which we can enter the Kingdom of God. Thus, if we believe Jesus Christ, we believe that He died for our sins to redeem us, then with such faith we receive salvation from sins and from God's wrath by being baptized. During baptism, when we are immersed into water, our old self dies and when we emerge from the water we are different - clothed in the righteousness that comes from Jesus:

Collosians 2, 12-15:

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus Christ defeated the evil one, if we confess Jesus, we are no longer subject to the prince of the world and this means that satan will no longer be able to come to us with reminders and accusations, why did you do this or that? We can confidently say to him – leave me alone, evil one, go away in the name of Jesus Christ, my sins are washed away and drowned, as the prophet Micah said:

Micah 7, 19:

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Thus after baptism you have no more sin. This is a wonderful thing and it is very good - there is no longer a barrier between you and God, now you are a child of God.

Galatians 3, 26-28:

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Baptism is not only the washing away of sins. It means death to the old life and resurrection with Christ to a new life. Baptism also shows that we decide to be His disciples and follow Christ, we belong to Him, our redeemer and savior.

2 Corinthians 5, 14-15:

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Our lives change; we desire to be like Him and to serve Him. Can we change ourselves, just by our own decision? No, we cannot.

That is why Jesus taught that we must be born again of the Spirit.
John 3, 1-6:
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Notice - "of water and of the Spirit", Jesus is talking about baptism here.

Likewise, the apostle John explains in his letter about faith and being born of water and the Spirit.
1 Johnn 5, 4-12:
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Let us look at these verses, these are meaningful verses and difficult for us to understand. It is very important. In practice, this is an explanation of how one becomes a Christian:
1 John 5, 4-5:
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
First, there is faith. Faith in what? Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came to redeem us. This is the beginning, this is the point, you believe. "Overcome the world", it does not mean that the believer goes to conquer the world, no, faith separates you from the world, and the cares and pleasures of this world no longer control you. You are no longer subject to satan's order, you are following the path that Jesus Christ set out for the Kingdom of Heaven, and the beginning of that path is baptism. Jesus Christ sets an example for us in everything.
1 John 5, 6-8:.

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Two things can be understood here, Jesus, the Son of God, was born as an ordinary man, from a woman, so there was water in which the fetus swims, and there was blood in childbirth. He went through the same thing as all of us. Yet He was not just a man, He was the Son of God and did the great works of His Father. He was baptized in water to set us an example, and then allowed himself to be tortured and killed for us in a most brutal way. It can be said that He had a baptism of blood for us, offering Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God to reconcile His wrath once and for all. Because sin brought death to man. As atonement for sins, God ordered to make blood sacrifices. In Old Testament times, there was a whole system set when, what designated animal and for what purpose must be sacrificed, that is killed in a certain way. After the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice, that sacrificed himself for us once and for all, we no longer need to shed the blood of animals, and we do not need to shed our own blood to have our sins forgiven. Jesus did it for us. This is the Good News - Jesus Christ has saved us. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand this. As the Father, the Word, that is Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are one, likewise are the witnesses on earth. We hear the Word, it falls like a seed into our heart and by the action of the Holy Spirit faith is born there and then we testify our faith with water baptism. In baptism, if we perform it in faith, we not only wash away our sins, but also receive protection through the blood of Christ shed for us. We believe that Jesus died for us and then every time we make a mistake, we simply sincerely apologize and we are forgiven. The blood of Jesus Christ has washed us away. To commemorate this, we have the rite of breaking bread left to us by Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit himself testifies to us these things.

1 John 5, 11-12:
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
This is how we get the eternal life. This is God's promise to us. When you decide to follow Jesus, He comes and is with you with His Holy Spirit. I am not saying that the baptism of the Spirit must necessarily coincide with the baptism of water, but this was usually the case among the early Christians.

We can distinguish three ways in which baptism took place in the time of the apostles. It usually happened as it had happened on the day of Pentecost - people heard the Word, often accompanied by signs and miracles, believed and were immediately baptized. Baptism was often closely followed by the touch of the Holy Spirit, and they often began to speak in tongues, as this is one of the first gifts of the Spirit.

Acts 2, 38-39:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Yet this is not a rule; only God knows the time, when and how to reveal himself to a man and He comes with His Holy Spirit when He wants and distributes gifts as He likes. We find in the Word of God that sometimes the baptism of water took place much earlier and the baptism of the Spirit followed later. We can see this in Acts 8, in Samaria, when Philip preached the Gospel and the people were baptized, but they did not receive the Holy Spirit, or the baptism of the Spirit, immediately.

Acts 8, 12; 14-17:
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Thirdly, in Acts 10 we can see that the baptism of the Spirit can precede the baptism of water. You have probably read in the Scripture about the apostle Peter and the Gentile, God-fearing man, the centurion Cornelius.
Acts 10, 44-48:
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
You see, Cornelius was baptized with water. All the witnesses must come together - the Spirit, the water and the blood. No matter that the angel of the Lord spoke to Cornelius before his baptism, no matter that the Holy Spirit came down and he received the gift of tongues before his water baptism, it did not seem to him that this was enough already. And as we can see, the apostle Peter also did not think, as some say now, that the baptism of the Spirit alone is enough for a person. After all, Jesus Christ himself was baptized with water. From baptism He began His public activity. We know that there was John the Baptist who preached baptism for the remission of sins in Jesus time:
Mark 1, 4:
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Matthew 3, 13-17:
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
 

The Son of God set an example for us. If we believe in Him, we do His will. And He has commanded:
Matthew 28, 18-20:
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
If we believe in Him, then we understand that we cannot consider ourselves His disciples without doing what He told us to do - without being baptized. I have already spoken of faith, as the apostle John explains it in his epistle. There is only one basic condition for baptism - faith. This we read in Acts 8 about Philip and the eunuch.
Acts 8, 26-33:

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

Acts 8, 34-39:
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

„See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?“ A person has just heard about Jesus and wants to be baptized. Does Philip say: "take your time, you must go to the community of disciples of Jesus Christ, there they will prepare you accordingly, you will pass the exams, and then when they gather a group of new believers like you, next Pentecost, you will be baptized"? Not at all; he says, “if you believe with all your heart, you can.” That is it. Here is the essential condition - faith. If you doubt, think whether it is necessary or not, what people will say, or maybe the water will be very wet, then you are not ready yet, you do not believe with all your heart or you have not yet freed yourself from all kinds of misleading teachings of people. Happy eunuch, he was neither sprinkled nor immersed in infancy, thus he knew for sure that he was not baptized. It is more difficult for us in these last times of great errors, but let us look at the Word of God. It is true, if you read the translation of the Bible approved by the Catholic hierarchy, you will see that the 37th verse I have highlighted is moved to the footnotes, it is simply not in the text, because it is not convenient for religious teaching. One of the main problems, holding people back from baptism in our Catholic land is that they think they are already baptized. It was the same for me; I believed and I really wanted to serve the Lord. I felt that something was wrong with me, but I did not realize that I was not a Christian yet. After all, Catholics consider themselves Christians, and I considered myself a Christian, until one brother Christian read me the passages of Scripture that clearly show what baptism is and that it should follow immediately after faith. Only after we were baptized, my husband and I, we did gain the strength to leave the religious system and truly become followers of Jesus Christ, firmly choosing His narrow way.

In the third part, you will read about how baptism should take place.