A Celebration of Baptism

We are excited that you have come to the place in your life where you are considering being baptized. Below we have provided for you an overview of what the Scripture teaches about baptism. We pray that after you review this information, you will clearly define baptism, understand its significance in your life, and take the next step to experience it personally.

What is Baptism?
Baptism is an outward testimony of the inward change in a believer’s life. Christian baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord after salvation; although baptism is closely associated with salvation, it is not a requirement to be saved. The Bible shows in many places that the order of events is 

1. a person believes in the Lord Jesus and 2. he is baptized. This sequence is seen in Acts 2:41, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (See also Acts 16:14–15). 

What is the Purpose of Baptism?
The believer publicly acknowledges his or her acceptance of the gospel of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through the act of being baptized. It represents the believer’s cleansing from their sins through Jesus Christ. “And now, why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. Acts 22:16 ESV It represents the believer‘s pledge to live Holy before God through Jesus Christ. 

…Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” 

1 Peter 3:21 ESV Most importantly, it symbolizes the believer’s death, burial, and resurrection through Jesus Christ and gives us a new life in Him. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4.

How do we Practice Baptism? 
As Baptists, we believe that the proper mode of Baptism is by immersion or dipping into and under the water. “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; Matthew 3:16 ESV