I love baptisms, they are right up there among the top things I love about my job. It is the gospel on display and yesterday we had the joy of baptising 8 people (7 from Congo and 1 from Sweden). As part of the process we typically meet with each person wanting to be baptised and we’re looking for three things, which we then ask people publicly at the baptism. Three beliefs, three questions.

It’s about repentance

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.

Acts 2:38

Water cleanses, but baptism is a picture not of the cleansing of the body but of the soul (1 Peter 3:21). You can’t get clean hanging on to your dirt. Gotta repent.

So we publicly ask people: Have you repented of your sins and asked God to forgive you?

It’s about New life

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Romans 6:3-5

Baptism is a bath but it is also a grave. We are buried in the waters with Christ in the hope that we will also be raised up as He was raised up. The old life that we have repented of and led us to death must be buried, the new life that only Christ can give must come.

So we ask: Do you trust in Jesus Christ to give you new and everlasting life?

It’s about Christ

For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 3:26-27

It is Christ who died that we might be forgiven. It is Christ who was raised up that we might live. And now we live in HIM. As Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:19-20).

So we are plunged into Christ, we are wrapped up in Him, and our life is now hidden in His. If you’re not ready to make your life all about Jesus then you’re not ready to be baptised. He is LORD and Saviour.

So we ask: Will you be clothed in Christ, living for Him all your days with the help of the Holy Spirit?

You can say more, always can, but this is our focus and helps us explain it so all can understand. Three beliefs, three questions.