People need to be baptized. Matthew’s gospel concludes with the resurrected Lord instructing His apostles to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).

The English terms “baptism” and “baptize” are derived from such Greek terms as baptisma and baptizo, which have reference to submersion or immersion (J.H. Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon, 94). Christ decreed that all those who desire to become His followers must be baptized (immersed) in water. As they carried the gospel to people of all nations, the apostles were to be busy “baptizing them” (Matt. 28:19). Baptizing whom?

Who exactly are these people who need to be baptized?

1. People who are guilty of sin. The Bible teaches that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (6:23). When the crowd in Jerusalem wanted to know what to do to be forgiven of their sins, the apostle Peter commanded them to, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). When Saul of Tarsus believed in Jesus and repented of his sins, he was told, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (22:16). Baptism is not for people who have already been forgiven of their sins. The people who need to be baptized are those who stand in need of having their sins washed away through the blood of Jesus.

2. People who are spiritually dead. Those who have committed sin find themselves “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, saying, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4). Notice that baptism involves a spiritually dead person being buried in the water and, subsequently, being raised out of the water to begin a new life (cf. Col. 2:12-13). Baptism is not for people who are already spiritually alive. The people who need to be baptized are the dead who need to be buried with Christ so that they can be raised to begin a new life in His service.

3. People who are outside of Christ. Paul describes sinners as being “alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works” (Col. 1:21). When sinners follow the Lord’s instruction regarding baptism they are “baptized into Christ” (Rom. 6:3). In other words, they were not in a relationship with Christ prior to being baptized. To the churches of Galatia, Paul writes, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27). Baptism is not for people who are already saved and who have already entered into a relationship with Christ. The people who need to be baptized are those who are alienated from the Lord because of sin and desperately need to enter into a relationship with Him.

Conclusion. Although a great deal of confusion and error exists in the world today concerning the topic of baptism, the Bible is very straightforward on the matter. When the Lord instructed His apostles to go about the business of “baptizing them,” He was referring to those who are guilty of sin, spiritually dead, and outside of a relationship with Him (Matt. 28:19). Baptism is not a step to be taken by those who are already saved, but is instead an absolutely necessary step to be taken by those who need to be saved. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:16). Do you need to be baptized?

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