Should a new believer be baptized immediately?

Answer

In the New Testament, new Christians were often baptized immediately after confessing Jesus as Lord. Should churches continue this practice today? Two issues need to be addressed. First, can new believers be baptized immediately? The biblical answer is a definite yes.

Three thousand believers were baptized on the same day they believed when the church began at 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 with Philip was baptized the same day he believed (Acts 8:26-38). Paul (then Saul) was baptized about three days after experiencing Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Acts 16:15 shows a woman baptized the same day she believed. Acts 16:33 notes the Philippian jailer and his family were baptized the night they believed. The first 3,000 people added to the church were baptized “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), and Jesus commanded His followers to baptize other disciples “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”, (Matthew 28:19). Baptism is clearly something expected of every Christian, whether or not they are baptized immediately.

The second issue to address, however, is whether a new believer is required to be baptized immediately. Some churches argue against spontaneous baptisms due to past examples of people being baptized without a true understanding.

Understanding the significance of salvation is a crucial aspect of church teachings. To avoid any confusion, these churches provide a class or other forms of instruction to ensure that each individual comprehends these matters before undergoing baptism.

Historically, during the third and fourth centuries, the theology surrounding baptism underwent changes in church practices. Initially, church teachings occurred post-baptism. However, with the rise of various heresies challenging the church, believers began receiving specific instructions before their baptism. By the fourth and fifth centuries, it became customary for catechism to be taught for several weeks before baptism. Since the Scriptures do not explicitly dictate the timeframe between a person’s profession of faith and their baptism, each church and its leaders have the liberty to establish the most suitable approach for their congregation.

While immediate baptism is not mandated, there appears to be a strong emphasis on promptly connecting an individual’s profession of faith with their baptism. Therefore, it is advisable for a church to minimize the time gap between a person’s profession of faith and their baptism. Additionally, many churches withhold participation in communion, official church membership, and other significant aspects of church life until after baptism. These considerations underscore the importance of conducting baptisms for new believers in a timely fashion.