What is the significance of water baptism?
Have you ever thought about getting baptized but still have unanswered questions? We would love to help you understand more about this significant, next step in your journey of following in the footsteps of Jesus.
Why should I consider getting baptized?
Following Christ: In order to understand the reason for being water baptized, it is important to carefully consider what the Bible says about it… Jesus himself was baptized. He was not a sinner, yet he humbled himself in obedience to identify with us and give us an example to follow.
“At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the
Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.””
– Mark 1:9 (MSG)
An Act of Obedience: Water baptism is an act of faith and obedience to the commands of Christ.
“Therefore 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.”
– Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
A Public Declaration: Baptism declares that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of your faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ. It is the next step after salvation through repentance and faith and is an important foundation for the Christian life.
Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved . . .”
– Mark 16:16a
What is the significance of baptism?
A Move From Death to Life:
Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water
during baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead.
“Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think about it! All sins are forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross.”
– Colossians 2:12-14 (MSG)
A Brand New Life:
It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. We bury the ‘old life’ and we rise to walk in a ‘new life’. Baptism is like a wedding ring, it is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart, a commitment that has to be followed through and lived out on a daily basis.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
“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.”
– Romans 6:4 (NIV)
Baptism does not make you a believer; it shows that you already are one! Baptism does not ‘save’ you; only your faith in Christ does that.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
– Ephesians 2:8,9 (NIV)
A Blessed Life: In baptism, the believer has the triune name of the triune God placed upon them, ‘Father’, ‘Son’ & ‘Holy Spirit’. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the name of the Godhead (one God in three persons). Baptism confirms our position ‘in Christ’ and affirms the blessings of the Father on us as his children. The Gospels tell us to baptize believers
“… into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,”
– Matthew 28:19b (NIV)
A New family: Baptism also connects us to the ‘body of Christ’, his people here on earth. In baptism there is a real sense of being joined with other believers, not just participating in an individual act of our own spiritual journey.
“…For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body…”
– 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV)
Who should be baptized?
Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ and has accepted the
forgiveness of God for his/her sins should be baptized. When Paul writes to the believers in Rome, he assumes that all of them have been baptized (Romans 6).
The one requirement for baptism is a belief in Christ!
“Those who accepted his message were baptized….”
– Acts 2:41 (NIV)
“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 8:12 (NIV)
“John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River.”
– Mark 1:4-5 (NIV)
When should I get baptized?
Believers in the New Testament were baptized the same day. As soon as a person
decides to believe in Christ, he can be, and is encouraged to be baptized.
“Those who accepted his message were baptized . . . ”
– Acts 2:41a (NIV)
“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news
about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in my way of being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.”
– Acts 8:35-39 (NIV)
We believe in baptizing children when they are old enough to understand what it means and make a personal declaration of belief. (This is most often between the ages 10-12, but can be earlier or later.)
How should I be baptized?
How should I be baptized? As per the example of Jesus – by being immersed in water. The word “baptize” comes from the Greek word “baptizo” which means, “to immerse or dip underwater”.
“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water . . . ”
– Matthew 3:16
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion underwater. The book of Acts shows us that this was the norm for every believer.
“ . . . then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized
him. When they came up out of the water . . .”
– Acts 8:38,39 (NIV)
If you have any other questions that we may help answer, please feel free to contact us at info@venturechurch.tv or to register for our next baptism click the button below.