My Child Wants to Be Baptized!

“At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.” Acts 16:33

“Daddy and Mommy, I want to be baptized!” From the time even before they are born, these are the words that we pray we will hear from our children. However, we also want to be sure that they have a genuine faith and a clear understanding of the gospel before they take this step, the most important of their lives. We may be concerned about their age, their maturity, and their motivation.

Has your child asked you this question? How can you be sure that your son or daughter is ready?

Listed below are some thoughts to express and some questions to ask your child. Parents, you may use any of these or all of these as you think best. These questions are intended only as suggestions and guidelines that I have found to be helpful. They are not requirements.

If your son or daughter will write down his or her answers to these questions, those written answers will help prevent later doubts (both yours and theirs) about their purpose and level of understanding at the time.

You might begin like this.

“I am so proud of you for wanting to be saved and to follow Jesus! Before you are baptized, let’s spend some time studying about what it means to be a Christian. We can talk about what we need to know and believe. We can read important Scriptures together and discuss your questions. Then, when we finish our study, you may be baptized into Christ.”

“What is baptism? Who should be baptized and why?”

“Why do you want or need to be baptized? How long have you been considering this, and what started you to thinking about it?”

“Why now? Would you consider waiting?” (If the child is not willing to wait because of conviction of sin, that’s a good sign! If the child is willing to wait, perhaps he or she is not ready and does not yet understand the urgency of the matter.) Read Acts 8:26-40.

Read Romans 1:29-31. “What is sin? Are you aware of sin in your own life? Do you think you are lost? Are you under conviction? Does your conscience bother you?” 

“Do you have specific sins in your own life that you want God to forgive?”

Read Romans 5:6-11. “What has Jesus Christ done to save us?” Emphasize the finished saving work of Jesus on the cross and the importance of faith in His grace. Some children (and adults!) think that they must achieve salvation rather than receive salvation. They think that, once they are baptized, they must be perfect in every way or else be lost again.)

“What do you think will happen to you if you are not baptized? Why?”

“Do you understand that baptism is the beginning of a lifelong walk with Christ?”

“Is it hard or easy to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Why?”

Read Luke 14:25-35. “What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? Are you prepared to surrender your life and all your future decisions to His will and His purpose for you? Can you say, ‘I have decided to follow Jesus! No turning back, no turning back?”

What will you do if there is a conflict between what Jesus says and what others say (or what your friends say or do)?” 

“What will you do if there is a conflict between church services and other activities?”

Read Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:1-11. “Are you ready to repent, to die to sin, to change your life? Are there any sins that you are not willing to give up?” 

“What will you do after you are baptized to show your gratitude and love for the Lord? How will you grow in Bible study? In worship? In your church involvement? In telling others about Christ?”

“Are you ready to sit and listen attentively to sermons and Bible lessons, as adults do, without needing something else to do during Bible class and worship?”

“Praise God!”

Good News to Hear and to Share! Jesus Can Save You! Here's How!

Here is a clear, straight-from-the-Bible way to understand the good news of Jesus Christ for yourself and for others you know! In Acts 2 in the Bible we can "listen in" on the simple, powerful message that the apostles of Christ presented on the Day of Pentecost just a few days after Jesus returned to heaven. 

Below you will see their actual words from the Bible in bold print, one point at a time. Then there are yes-or-no questions based on each section. Consider this passage carefully for yourself. If you can answer “yes” to each question that follows, keep reading. If you need to answer "no" to any question, please stop there and post a comment to express your thoughts.

Or email Cory directly: CHCFB24atoutlook.com. (Substitute @ for at in the address above.)

Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

Do you believe that Jesus performed miraculous deeds, and that these deeds prove His identity as the One attested by God?

23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross as part of God’s plan to save you?

Do you believe that you personally helped crucify Jesus, because of your sin?

Do you know what sin is? Do you know what YOUR sins are? Can you list the attitudes, words, and deeds in your life that the Bible describes as sin?

24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Do you believe that God raised Jesus physically and bodily from the dead?

25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Do you believe that King David, 1000 years before Christ, predicted that Christ would rise?

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

Do you believe that Peter and the other apostles witnessed the truth of the resurrection?

33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

Do you believe that Jesus ascended to heaven, and that He has been enthroned and exalted to the right hand of God?

Do you believe that all Jesus’ enemies will be overthrown and placed at His feet?

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Do you believe for certain that Jesus is Lord – God and Master of your life and all things?

Do you believe for certain that Jesus is Christ – the promised Messiah and Savior?

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Are you cut to the heart – convicted of your own sin and your part in crucifying Jesus?

Do you believe that you are lost because of your sin?

Do you believe, unless you respond to the gospel of Christ, you could die and spend eternity in hell?

Do you believe that it is urgent and absolutely essential for you to respond at once?

Are you asking, “What shall I do?”

Are you prepared to do whatever the Bible teaches you to do, at once?

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Do you understand that you must both repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins?

Do you believe that, until you repent and are baptized, you have not been forgiven of your sins?

Do you understand that to repent is to turn away from sin and surrender your heart and life to the Lord?

Do you understand that to be baptized is to be immersed or submerged in water, “buried” and “raised?”

40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Do you understand why Peter kept exhorting and urging them to be saved?

Do you believe that God through His Word is exhorting and urging you to be saved, as soon as possible?

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Have you received God’s Word as presented here?

Are you ready to do what they did, to be baptized?

Do you understand that, when you are baptized, God will add you to His church?

Do you realize that this is the church that belongs to Christ, that He said He would establish?

Do you understand that this is the non-denominational church of Christ, belonging to Christ, as the New Testament describes it?

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Will you devote yourself to the worship assemblies and teaching activities of the local congregation, emphasizing these same four matters - biblical teaching, fellowship with others in the church, breaking bread in the Lord's Supper, and praying to the Lord?

43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Will you commit yourself to spiritual growth and active service and sharing in the local church?

Will you be a participant in the church, busy and productive in the church’s work?

Will you share with others, praise God, and seek to influence people for Him?

Do you believe that, through you, God wants to add others to the church day by day?

If, after completing this study, you are convicted of your need to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, God bless you! Please comment below, and we will put you in touch with someone who can assist you.

Or email Cory directly: CHCFB24atoutlook.com. (Substitute @ for at in the address above.)