Mark 16:15-16 NKJV
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

In yesterday’s devotional, we began a discussion on baptism. In it, I tell my own story and the difficulties that I had with baptism. If you haven’t read it, please get it so that this continuation doesn’t leave you hanging somewhere in the middle. When it comes to baptism, those who have never been in church and are new believers don’t have an issue. It’s usually those of us who grew up in religious environments, where we were “baptized” when we were babies and not even believers. That’s akin to marrying off a child and then later introducing them to their husband, and telling them how you married them off as a baby because you were not sure which direction life would take. Love, including the love of God must always be a choice.

The “He who believes and is baptized” in the scripture above indicates that he who believes should also be baptized. This is what Jesus commanded and the early church practiced. Those who received Jesus were baptized. Believe, and then be baptized. 

Acts 2:37-38, 41 NKJV
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “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.
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Peter preached, and before he could make the altar call, they were cut to the heart and asked the apostles what they must do. They didn’t lead them in the sinners’ prayer. That too is biblical (Romans 10:10), but here they were to do two things – repent and be baptized. First you repent and turn to the Lord, then you get baptized.