BAPTISMS
What is the significance of baptism?
Have you ever thought about getting baptized but have too many questions still unanswered?
In this article we would love to help you understand a little bit more about this significant next step in your journey of following Jesus.
Why should i consider getting baptized?
Following Christ
In order to understand the reason for being water baptized, it is important to carefully consider what the Bible says about it: Jesus himself was baptized. He was not a sinner, yet he humbled himself in obedience to identify with us and give us an example to follow.
"One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River."
Mark 1:9 (NLT)
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 the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)
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.
What is the meaning & significance of baptism?
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.
"For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross."
Colossians 2:12-14 (NLT)
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, it is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart, a commitment that has to be followed through and lived out on a daily basis.
Here is one simple way to explain baptism:
Baptism is a symbol. It’s meant to show the world that that you love, trust and have put your hope in Christ. It’s like a wedding ring.
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
"For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives."
Romans 6:4 (NLT)
Baptism does not make you a believer; it shows that you already are one! Baptism does not “save” you; only your faith in Christ does that.
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
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 name of the Godhead (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 in the earth. In baptism there is a real sense of being joined with other believers, not just participating in an individual act of our own spiritual journey.
"The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit."
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NLT)
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 under water”.
"After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him."
Matthew 3:16 (NLT)
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water. The book of Acts shows us that this was the norm for every believer.
"He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water..."
Acts 8:38-39 (NLT)
who should be Baptized?
Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ. When Paul writes to the believers in Rome, he assumes that all of them have been baptized (Romans 6). The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ!
"Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day"
Acts 2:41 (NLT)
"But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized."
Acts 8:12 (NLT)
We believe in baptizing children when they are old enough to understand what it means and make a personal declaration of belief.