Here are some scriptural sources often referenced in support of believer’s baptism:
- Repentance and Belief: In many instances, baptism in the Bible is associated with repentance and belief in Jesus Christ. These passages include:
- “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).
- “Those who accepted his message were baptized” (Acts 2:41).
- “Believe and be baptized” (Mark 16:16).
Advocates of believer’s baptism argue that these verses highlight the importance of personal faith and conscious decision-making before being baptized.
- Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40): This passage recounts Philip encountering an Ethiopian eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip explains the Scriptures to him, and upon the eunuch’s confession of faith in Jesus Christ, Philip baptizes him.
Supporters of believer’s baptism point to this account as an example of baptism following a personal confession of faith.
- Baptism as an Expression of Faith: Several verses highlight baptism as a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ, such as:
- “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4).
- “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
Advocates of believer’s baptism argue that these passages emphasize the symbolism of baptism as a personal expression of faith and identification with Christ’s death and resurrection.
- Examples of Adult Baptism: In the New Testament, there are instances where individuals are explicitly identified as being baptized as adults upon their profession of faith. Examples include:
- The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36-38)
- Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:17-18)
- The Philippian jailer (Acts 16:30-34)
Supporters of believer’s baptism view these examples as evidence that baptism followed a conscious decision to believe in Jesus Christ.
