In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’” (Matthew 3:1-2, 5-9a NIV)

Surrender and baptism are distinct but related events. Scripture suggests two approaches to their timing. The first follows the pattern of the early church, where baptism occurred immediately or very soon after surrender (Note). The second is where baptism follows surrender by a sufficient determination that the surrender was real. Is there even a modicum of a wake in their contrail? Is the supplicant attending church regularly? Have they been sufficiently discipled to understand the important things? John the Baptist’s challenge to the religious leaders reminds us that genuine surrender inherently produces fruit.

We do both the Church and the new believer a disservice if we fail to consider the fullness and sufficiency of the profession. At the same time, the New Testament encourages prompt obedience to Christ’s command.

Discernment and stewardship of the gifts of God are required.

Note: The pattern is established in the Book of Acts where the 3,000 at Pentecost, the Ethiopian eunuch, the Philippian jailer, and his household were all baptized the day they believed.