The Bible has much to say concerning baptism. Baptism is one of those subjects that has different traditions and interpretations of scripture tied in with it. While we realize that Christians have different meanings for this symbolic act it doesn’t make one body of believers right and the other one wrong. It simply means that this expression of someone’s faith is ‘different’.

Who Should Be Baptized

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are ready to be baptized. Just like a bride and groom show others their love for one another by wearing wedding bands, your baptism is your opportunity to show others that you have accepted Christ and are now walking with Him.

Christians believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, salvation occurs only when a person places his or her faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as the sufficient payment for his or her sin.

Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41, 8:12-13, 8:35-39, 10:47-48, 16:27-33, 18:8

Baptism and Children

We often get asked about baptism for children. Typically the understanding and faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and the resurrection comes during later grade school years. For younger children, we have Child Dedications which is a time for parents to pledge their commitment to raise their child in a God-honoring home. To learn more about Child Dedication click here.

What Baptism Symbolizes

Baptism is a way of showing others that you have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It symbolizes what took place in your heart at the time of salvation:

• That you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 
• You share in His death and resurrection, illustrated by going under the water (dead to your old life), then rising again (new life).
• We are symbolically washed clean, and our sins were forgiven by His death on the cross. The act of baptism does not free us from our sins, it ‘shows’ to our family and friends that we believe in Jesus and that it was his death that freed us from our sins and his resurrection from the dead that gives us new life.

The significance of baptism is often portrayed by immersion. However, we must be careful not to make the mode more important that the truth it symbolizes. We understand that certain physical limitations of a person might make other modes (sprinkling/pouring) necessary.

Romans 6:1-14, Colossians 2:12

Baptism Message

If you think baptism is the next step for you, take thirty minutes and listen to Allan’s talk, "What About Baptism?" In the message, he answers the questions we are most often asked about baptism. You can find it on our website here.