Believer's baptism

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Believer's baptism is the Christian ordinance of baptism (usually by immersion) in which the participant publicly professes his faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Believer's baptism is also referred to as credo-baptism, from the Latin word credo, meaning believe. Churches and denominations that practice believer's baptism do so in contrast to denominations that practice Infant baptism (or paedo-baptism, from the Greek word paido meaning child or infant). A key concept in believer's baptism is that a credible profession of faith must be given by the recipient before baptism. Adherents to "Believer's baptism" suggest that Acts 2:38 supports this premise.

[edit] Biblical basis

The biblical basis of believer's baptism centers around the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist (Mat. 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:29-34) and several other New Testament passages:

"In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of man, but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." (Col. 2:11-12, NIV)
"and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Pe. 3:21)
"(37) Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" (38) And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. . ." (41) So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:37-38, 41)[1]

In addition, many theologians hold that there is no conclusive evidence of infant baptism in Scripture [2], thus indicating that baptism is reserved for adults who have professed faith in Christ.