Ask a Pastor Column

Q: Am I ever too old to get baptized?

A: No indeed! After looking over the various accounts and exhortations concerning baptism, I was unable to find a single passage where age was even mentioned! Baptism was a very simple matter in New Testament times: as soon as a person became convinced of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and Savior of the world and of their own need for Him to be their Savior, they would express their changed opinion, heart and life by being baptized. A person was almost always baptized shortly after believing (Acts 2:41; 8:36-38; 16:30-33; etc.), and their baptism served to picture the impact of their saving faith (Romans 6:3-4), and declare their desire to live in accord with His life and teachings from that moment on (Matthew 28:19-20).

Baptism serves as a unique opportunity for believers to see God’s continuing work in the lives of others. I recently witnessed a mother and daughter being baptized together after being rescued by grace from a life of abuse and incarceration. Their baptism reminded me of my own. Even though I was blessed to have grown up in a Christian home and was baptized at a young age, I know that I need God’s grace just as much as anyone else. I rejoice to see that grace work in other lives, no matter how old they are or what they have or haven’t done. I have witnessed children joyfully offering their life to Christ through baptism and grandparents who finally yielded Christ’s Lordship after a lifetime of resisting His pull.

Every Christian’s story is unique, but our one baptism unites us (Ephesians 4:4-5), reminding us of God’s love and grace, which continues to work in us and our fellow believers in the Church. Baptism is a very special event and if you know Christ as your Lord and Savior, then there is absolutely no reason not to let your brothers and sisters know about it; celebrate with them through the baptism service!

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