Baptism

What is the significance of baptism? Have you ever thought about getting baptized but have too many questions still unanswered?

WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDERED GETTING BAPTIZED?

Following Christ: To understand the reason for being water baptized, it is important to consider what the Bible says carefully: he was baptized. He was not a sinner, yet he humbled himself in obedience to identify with us and give us an example to follow. At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in  Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a  dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my  Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.” Mark 1:9 MSG

An Act of Obedience: Water baptism is an act of faith and obedience to the commands of Christ. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

A Public Declaration: Baptism declares that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of your faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ. It is the next step after salvation through repentance and faith and is an important foundation for Christian life. Then He said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the message of God’s good news to one and all.  Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is  damned.” Mark 16:16 MSG

A Move From Death To Life: Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead. “Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive –  right along with Christ! Think about it! All sins are forgiven, the slate wiped  clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross.”  Colossians 2:12-14 MSG

A Brand-New Life: It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. We bury the “old life,”  and we rise to walk in a “new life.” Baptism is like a wedding ring, and it is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart, a  commitment that has to be followed through and lived out daily.

A Blessed Life: In baptism, the believer has the triune name of the triune God placed upon them: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The name of the Lord Jesus  Christ is the Godhead's name (one God in three persons). The  Gospels tell us to baptize  believers “into the name of the Father, the  Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19.  Baptism confirms our position “in Christ” and affirms the blessings of the Father on us as his children.

A New Family: Baptism also connects us to the “body of Christ” – his people on the earth. There is a real sense of being joined with other believers in baptism, not just participating in an individual act of our own spiritual journey. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

HOW ARE WE TO BE BAPTIZED?
As per the example of Jesus – by being  immersed in water, the word “baptize” comes from the Greek word  “baptize,” which means “to immerse or dip underwater.” “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16

Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion underwater. The book of Acts shows us that this was the norm for every believer. “Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the  water…” Acts 8:38,39

WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
Every person who has decided to believe in Christ. When Paul writes to the believers in Rome, he assumes that they have been baptized (Romans 6). The one requirement for baptism is the belief in Christ! “Those who accepted his message were baptized.” Acts 2:41  “But when they believed Philip as he  preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus  Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12

We believe in baptizing children when they are old enough to understand what it means and make a personal declaration of belief.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and would like to talk about being baptized, please contact us today!