Baptism matters because Jesus commanded it as part of making disciples. It publicly identifies a believer with Christ and his people and portrays the saving reality of belonging to the crucified and risen Lord.
At KnowingGod, we understand baptism to be for those who personally profess repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, people receive the gospel and are baptized as followers of Jesus. Baptism is therefore a response of faith, not something we administer to infants on the basis of their parents’ faith.
This conviction fits our understanding of the new covenant: its saving blessings belong to those who know the Lord through faith in Christ. The church cannot see the heart perfectly, so it baptizes on the basis of a credible profession of faith rather than claiming certainty about every person’s inward condition.
Baptism does not earn forgiveness or add to Christ’s sufficient sacrifice. We are justified by grace through faith. Yet it is not an optional decoration added to Christian life; it is an important act of obedience in which we publicly confess the Savior who has rescued us.
Faithful Christians who baptize infants understand the covenant relationship differently. We can explain our convictions clearly while treating them with respect and recognizing our shared faith in Christ.
If you trust Jesus and have not been baptized upon profession of faith, speak with a pastor in a faithful local church. You do not need to reach spiritual maturity first, but you should understand the gospel and what you are professing.
Read in the Bible
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