It's always a joyful and exciting occasion when a young person obeys the gospel and is baptized. Sometimes we can struggle with the question, "Am I ready to be baptized?" Here are five answers that can help you to know you're ready to be baptized and become a Christian. I need to be baptized when...

I Know Good And Evil
The age when one is baptized is different for everyone. I've known young people who were baptized from 9 to 19 years old. Yet, your age isn't the most important thing.

When we reach an age that we understand "right" and "wrong" we become accountable to God. He doesn't consider young children to be guilty of sin, "your little ones ... who today have no knowledge of good and evil" (Deuteronomy 1:39).

Yet, when we reach an age that we know "good and evil," and we do evil or wrong, we are guilty of sin.

I Am A Sinner
When we're guilty of sin we become a sinner, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Now that I am a sinner, I need to be saved from my sin.

The guilt of sin is a very serious matter! My sin separates me from God (Isaiah 59:2), makes my conscience feel guilty (1 Peter 3:21), and it can doom me to eternal punishment. "For the wages of sin is death" and "the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8).

I Need Salvation
God doesn't want to condemn anyone to Hell. His great love for us is the reason He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17).

Jesus died for your sins! His bloody, cruel, and horrifying death on the cross teaches us how God "sees" the "ugliness" of our sins!! Although we have sinned, God's wonderful mercy and grace is abundant towards us - and all men! "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" (Romans 5:8-9).

Salvation is a free gift we receive when our sins are forgiven by God. "Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins"' (Acts 2:38).

I Want To Follow Christ
Wanting the forgiveness of sins is a good reason to be baptized. Another reason to become a Christian is you have decided to follow Jesus.

A Christian is a disciple and follower of Christ. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross  daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).

Being a disciple means we listen to Jesus, not the world and worldly friends, and let Jesus guide our lives through His word. We strive the best we can to obey Jesus. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

I Want To Go To Heaven
When we die, we want to go to Heaven. God, Jesus, angels, and our saved loved ones will be there! The only way to Heaven is by salvation in Jesus Christ. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

If you need to be baptized into Christ to be saved, please talk to your elders, preacher, or parents. Now that you know what God wants you to do, why are you waiting?

- Focusing On Truth, Dec. 2012, edited with permission