What is Baptism?

Written on 11/16/2019
Linda Nordby


What is Baptism?

Once Jesus becomes the center of a person's life, the next step in the process is to experience Christian baptism. Baptism is a shout-out to the world that through being immersed or sprinkled with water in a public service, you identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. We publicly proclaim that we are dying to sin and coming alive in Christ. Baptism is your public witness of moving from a seeker to a believer.

Who Should Be Baptized?

A believer has concluded that Jesus' death on the cross was a sacrifice for their sin and the only way to bridge the gap between God and us. By baptism, a believer is saying to the community, "I trust Christ alone for my salvation!"

If you are considering baptism, there are two important questions to ask yourself:
    1. Have I made a commitment to have Jesus be the center of my life?

    2. Am I ready to publicly share this life change with my community?

Why Do We Baptize?

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus gives the "marching orders" for what Christians are to do with their one and only life. Jesus said,

"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."

Baptism is not an act by which we are saved. It is an outward sign of what Christ has already done in our hearts. If you are unsure of where you stand with Christ, take your time. If you would like to read more about what the Bible says regarding baptism, check out these verses:

Romans 6:1-11 - "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  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. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin—  because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.  The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Acts 2:41 - "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

Acts 8:12 - "But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."

Acts 10:47-48 - "“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days."

If you have decided to follow Jesus and you are ready to share that commitment publicly, we encourage you to get baptized by clicking the button below. If you have questions or would like to discuss this further, please contact Pastor Chris. 

Yes, I want to be baptized!