In all of Christianity, few tenets are as argued over as baptism. Baptism is meant as an outward affirmation of an inward shift in your desire to align with God as far as you understand him to be and adopt his purpose with your whole heart.
Baptism is only available to those who show themselves worthy of it. Worthiness is not a question of desire, tradition, or expectation. It is a matter of choosing to submit fully to God. In order to be worthy to be baptized, a person must live as they believe God would in their place and commit to continuing to do so as God continues to teach them more about himself.797
Baptism is called the first fruit (or result) of repentance because it is meant to come after one decides to fully submit to and serve God.798 Baptism is only valid for those who have changed their thoughts, feelings, and actions to align with how they believe Jesus would live in their place.799 Thus, one should be born again before being baptized.