Baptism
Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water as a public proclamation of an event that has already occurred – salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Through baptism, the new believer openly identifies himself with Christ. A believer submerged during baptism signifies the death and burial of his old life, while recalling the sacrificial death and burial of Christ. Emerging from the baptismal waters is symbolic of being raised with Christ to a new life.
Baptism is not only a responsibility of new believers - it is also an incredible privilege -and the first step of discipleship.
Who should be baptized?
Baptism is often referred to as “believer’s baptism” and it is intended as just that. New Testament baptism occurs when a person trusts Christ as Lord and Savior and obeys the command to be submerged in water and raised from it as a testimony to a salvation experience that has already occurred. Apart from personal commitment to Christ, water provides nothing more than temporary outer cleansing. Baptism is intended for the believer who has been convicted of his sin and separation from God, has repented (or turned away) of his sinfulness, and has confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As such, we believe that the ordinance of baptism should be reserved for those who are old enough to have a biblical understanding of salvation, a conscious commitment to Christ, and a knowledge of the significance of the act of baptism.
When should I be baptized?
Although baptism is not a means by which we are saved, it is a means by which we are set apart. Through baptism, the believer testifies that he is no longer his own – that he belongs to Christ and to God’s family. Baptism should immediately follow the salvation experience and should be the believer’s first public testimony and first act of obedience. Scriptural baptism (baptism based on a personal commitment to Christ) occurs once. Once baptized by immersion, a Christ-follower need not be baptized again as a result of a change in church membership or growth in spiritual understandings.
Why should I be baptized?
Baptism is not a requirement of salvation, but it is a requirement of obedience. Jesus himself was baptized by John the Baptist – and he requires that His followers be baptized as well. As previously mentioned, baptism is the responsibility of a new believer, but it is an even greater privilege. Through baptism the believer aligns himself with his Lord and with his new family – the church. Also, because of Christ’s mandate for believer’s baptism, you cannot be a member of First Baptist Church until you have been baptized by immersion.
How should I be baptized?…(and why do I have to get so wet?)
The biblical model for baptism involves complete immersion in water. The Greek word “baptizo” used in the New Testament means to “immerse”, “sink”, or “submerge”. The common use of this “new” word transliterated into English included the sinking of a ship or the complete soaking of a garment in dye. Baptism in the Bible was always by immersion. New Testament baptisms, including Christ’s, were performed by immersion.
Mark 1:9 describes the baptism of Jesus, where he was baptized by John “into” the Jordan and came “out from within” the water after he was emerged. For the first 1200 years of Christian history, immersion was the universally accepted mode of baptism.
Finally, the symbolism of baptism is best reflected through immersion. The act of baptism symbolizes the death and burial of Christ (and the corresponding “watery grave” for the old life of the new believer). When we accept Christ we are deciding to die to our old sinful way of life and to live for Christ in His power. Emergence from the water represents the believer’s “rebirth” to a new life.
