How long should one wait until getting baptized?

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I think if someone says they have repented (understanding what that means), and requests to be baptized, that they should be allowed to be baptized, even if no one "witnessed" their repentance.



Repentance just means a change of mind. To think differently. If someone has made a conscious decision to turn away from sin, then that constitutes repentance, even if they haven't proven it yet. My goodness, most people haven't had time to prove anything right after they get up from the altar! Would you recommend a waiting period, in which their righteousness must be proven, before they can have their sins washed away?

I don't see any kind of waiting period as biblical in any sense of the word.

Who would accountable for the soul, if they were in the 'waiting process' when the Lord returned for His church??? Just a thought.

[MissBrattified]

Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

This is a sterling example--all that was necessary was that the eunuch "believe with all his heart"!!!! There was no "trial" period. There was no discussion of all the sins he would need to give up first--all he had to do in order to be baptized was to believe!

[QueenEsther]

Originally Posted by Annie

Who would accountable for the soul, if they were in the 'waiting process' when the Lord returned for His church??? Just a thought.

You said it better!