We so are excited to see you're interested in taking the next steps in following after Christ by being Baptized.
Why should I consider getting baptized?
I believe anyone who truly trusts in Christ for Salvation should strongly consider being baptized. I also believe it’s a personal conviction of every believer that wishes to be identified with Christ.
Here are few things to ponder as make your decision:
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.
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 of 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 a NEXT STEP after salvation through repentance and faith and is an important foundation for being a disciple.
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
What is the meaning and significance of baptism?
A Move From Death to Life
SITTING UP:
When we sit in the water this is our current life before Christ.
DEATH AND BURIAL:
Our entrance into the water “Baptism” is a symbol of Christ’s crucifixion and burial. Our baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb.
UP FROM THE WATER:
When we come up out of the water this is symbolic of Christ's 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 of it! All sins 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:
Our baptism is symbolic of your new life as a believer and disciple of Christ. 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 God expects us to live out on a daily basis.
Here is one simple way to explain baptism:
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…
Let’s say someone who isn’t married puts a wedding ring on their finger, would that make them married? No, of course not. Similarly, We can be baptized in a church, but that doesn’t make me a true believer or disciple in Christ.
Now let’s look at marriage in a real sense. Pastors Selo & Mia really did go through the marriage ceremony. If they don’t have their ring on their finger, would that mean they weren’t married? No way, of course they would still be married. Similarly, I can be a believer in Christ, but not baptized, and my sins are still paid for and forgiven by God.
The idea of wearing a wedding ring is to let everyone know they truly were married and they really, really love each other. In the same way, if I have trusted Christ to save me from S.I.N., and He is the Lord and joy of my life, then I’ll want everyone to know about it. So baptism is a statement to everyone who sees it, that I have trusted Christ for my salvation and I’m committed to living for Him.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4
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.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
A Blessed Life:
In baptism, the believer has the triune name of the triune God placed upon them, ‘Father’, ‘Son’ & ‘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. It helps identify with Christ in three areas of our life: Spiritually, Mentally and Physically.
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.
“…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 completely immersed in water. The word “baptize” comes from the Greek word “baptize” which literally means “to immerse or dip under water”.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water. 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
Why should I consider getting baptized?
I believe anyone who truly trusts in Christ for Salvation should strongly consider being baptized. I also believe it’s a personal conviction of every believer that wishes to be identified with Christ.
Here are few things to ponder as make your decision:
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.
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 of 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 a NEXT STEP after salvation through repentance and faith and is an important foundation for being a disciple.
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
What is the meaning and significance of baptism?
A Move From Death to Life
SITTING UP:
When we sit in the water this is our current life before Christ.
DEATH AND BURIAL:
Our entrance into the water “Baptism” is a symbol of Christ’s crucifixion and burial. Our baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb.
UP FROM THE WATER:
When we come up out of the water this is symbolic of Christ's 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 of it! All sins 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:
Our baptism is symbolic of your new life as a believer and disciple of Christ. 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 God expects us to live out on a daily basis.
Here is one simple way to explain baptism:
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…
Let’s say someone who isn’t married puts a wedding ring on their finger, would that make them married? No, of course not. Similarly, We can be baptized in a church, but that doesn’t make me a true believer or disciple in Christ.
Now let’s look at marriage in a real sense. Pastors Selo & Mia really did go through the marriage ceremony. If they don’t have their ring on their finger, would that mean they weren’t married? No way, of course they would still be married. Similarly, I can be a believer in Christ, but not baptized, and my sins are still paid for and forgiven by God.
The idea of wearing a wedding ring is to let everyone know they truly were married and they really, really love each other. In the same way, if I have trusted Christ to save me from S.I.N., and He is the Lord and joy of my life, then I’ll want everyone to know about it. So baptism is a statement to everyone who sees it, that I have trusted Christ for my salvation and I’m committed to living for Him.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4
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.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
A Blessed Life:
In baptism, the believer has the triune name of the triune God placed upon them, ‘Father’, ‘Son’ & ‘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. It helps identify with Christ in three areas of our life: Spiritually, Mentally and Physically.
- Spiritually: We identify with Christ in faith.
- Mentally: We identify with our soul, our mind can remember our act of faith spiritually and mentally.
- Physically: We identify in the physical by actually getting in the water and being submerged into the water. It’s by faith we spiritually make mental decision to take action physically.
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.
“…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 completely immersed in water. The word “baptize” comes from the Greek word “baptize” which literally means “to immerse or dip under water”.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water. 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