Baptism

Who should be baptized?

Every person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior should be baptized. Acts 2:41 – “Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized…” Acts 8:12 – “But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.”
The one requirement that the Bible sets forth for baptism is belief in Jesus Christ. For this reason we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the meaning of baptism before we baptize them.

Why be baptized?

1. To follow the example set by Jesus. Mark 1:9 – “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.”
2. Because Christ commands it. Matthew 28:19–20 – “Jesus said, ‘…go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything I have commanded you…”
3. It demonstrates that I really am a believer. Acts 18:8 – “…many of the people who heard Him believed and were baptized.” 1 John 2:3 – “We know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands.

1. Baptism does not save us. Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith…it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy…”
2. Baptism testifies to my union with Christ in His burial and resurrection. 1 Cor. 15:3–4 –“Christ died for our sins…He was buried…and He rose again.” Col. 2:12 – “for when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.”
3. Baptism illustrates my new life as a Christian. 2 Cor. 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Romans 6:4 – “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.”