Baptism is for Believers and New Converts
- Baptist Daily Devotional
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Updated: 2 hours ago
Rev. Tse Amable | January 23 2026 | Acts 22:1-21
KEY VERSE: “And now what are you waiting for? GET UP, BE BAPTIZED and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16, NIV)
MESSAGE:
One of the core doctrines of Evangelical Christianity is that BAPTISM IS FOR BELIEVERS AND NEW CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY. This is a fundamental statement of faith for all Evangelicals, including Baptists. We, as Baptists, teach and practise baptism by immersion in water for all persons who have first heard the gospel of Jesus Christ shared with them in a way they have understood, secondly have responded to the gospel message through repentance from sin and accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour and thirdly, have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord before others. At this time, Apostle Paul met Ananias in Damascus. He had confessed Jesus Christ as Lord after his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, but he had not yet been baptised by immersion in water. Hence, Ananias's call for Paul to get up and be baptised. The Ethiopian Eunuch, after hearing the word of God explained to him by Evangelist Philip, upon getting to a pool of water, asked Philip: “LOOK, HERE IS WATER. WHY SHOULDN'T I BE BAPTIZED?” Philip's answer was, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The Ethiopian Eunuch responded, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Upon that assurance, the Ethiopian Eunuch “ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:38 NASB).
The command of Jesus Christ, as recorded by St. Mark, says “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. HE WHO HAS BELIEVED AND HAS BEEN BAPTIZED SHALL BE Saved .....” (Mark 16:15-16). Baptism is for only those who have heard the gospel and believed in Jesus Christ. Anything else, including the baptism of babies, is unscriptural.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Have you been baptised by immersion after you heard the gospel and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord? If Ananias saw the need for Apostle Paul to be baptised and the Ethiopian Eunuch also saw the need to be baptised in water after he understood the gospel, then every believer and new convert should be quickly baptised upon their own confession of faith in Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Father, thank you for this important fundamental doctrine of baptism by immersion in water. Help us teach this doctrine to all believers and new converts, and have them baptised by immersion in water, as we see practised in the New Testament. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
DAILY word study: BAPTISED Baptizō is the Greek word for Baptise, meaning to immerse, to dip fully, or to submerge. The word conveys a decisive action, not a partial or symbolic gesture.
In the New Testament, baptizō consistently describes the outward act that follows inward belief. It marks identification with Christ and public alignment with His name. For Paul, baptism was not optional or delayed. It was the next step of obedience after faith had taken root.
Reflect on this:
Baptism expresses obedience that flows from conviction. It does not create faith, but it gives faith a clear and faithful expression.
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