Do I Have to Be Baptised. Immersion or Sprinkling

Official answer 2026-08-22

The first question first: yes, it matters. This is not an optional extra. Jesus himself was baptised and told his disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit. In Acts, whenever someone believes, baptism follows almost immediately — there is no gap of years in between. So believing but remaining unbaptised is an unusual state in the New Testament. That is not to say something is wrong with you; it is to say this was always meant to be arranged. What is baptism. It is a public mark that this person belongs to Christ. The New Testament explains it with burial and resurrection — one person ended, another begun. It is for others to see and for you to remember. On method, the church genuinely differs, and has for a long time. Those holding to immersion note that the original word carries the sense of dipping, and that accounts describe going down into water. Those holding to pouring or sprinkling note that Scripture also uses sprinkling imagery for cleansing, and that some accounts show no pool in view. Most major traditions recognise each other baptisms as valid, and that is telling: it means the church as a whole does not treat method as the dividing line. Practically: mention it to a pastor at your church — they usually want this more than you do. Follow your church practice on method rather than seeking something else. And if you have hesitations, about not being good enough or about family reaction, say them out loud. Those are exactly what needs discussing, not a reason to postpone.