Are baptism classes biblical?

Answer

Many churches offer or require baptism classes before baptizing new believers. Is this practice biblical? To clarify, there are no instances of baptism classes found in the New Testament. Therefore, Scripture does not mandate any such class for baptism. Baptism is intended for individuals who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. All Christians should be baptized as an initial act of obedience to Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).

An argument can be presented, however, both in favor of and against baptism classes. Advocates for baptism classes typically do so as a precaution to ensure that a person comprehends what it means to have faith in Jesus. This concern arises partly from many individuals who were baptized at a young age only to realize later that they did not grasp the essence of being a Christian.

Baptism classes can assist participants in gaining a better understanding of the rationale behind baptism. Baptism does not bring about salvation, as salvation is solely by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, baptism does serve as a means to identify believers as disciples of Christ and members of the church family.

Opponents of baptism classes often refer to the swift baptisms recorded in the New Testament. For instance, 3,000 individuals were baptized on the day of Pentecost “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”, (Acts 2:41). The Ethiopian who believed in Jesus was baptized immediately after believing (Acts 8:26-38). In the subsequent chapter, Paul (then Saul) was baptized shortly after believing.

In Jesus as well.

These and other examples indicate that the early church did not require believers to undergo any form of education before being baptized. While there is nothing wrong with this practice, there have also been many instances of individuals who have been baptized without comprehending the significance of baptism or believing in Jesus. Many churches have endeavored to offer baptism classes to address this issue. Both perspectives are biblically valid, and neither is prohibited. Ultimately, each individual church has autonomy in this matter.

In conclusion, although there is no biblical mandate for, or instance of, baptism classes in Scripture, there are indeed legitimate reasons for providing such programs. Every church should aim to lead people to faith in Christ, help new believers grasp the true essence of baptism, and promptly baptize new believers. The methods for achieving this goal may differ from one church to another, as long as the practice of baptizing believers is upheld.