Baptism

We believe that baptism is one of two continuing ordinances given by Jesus Christ to the Church. It is an act of obedience through which a believer publicly expresses identification with Christ and the Gospel.

Baptism follows personal repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, those who received the Gospel were baptized as an expression of their faith. Baptism did not create that faith; it gave public testimony to it.

We practice baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Immersion presents a clear picture of the believer’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Going beneath the water pictures burial with Christ, and rising from the water pictures the new life believers have in Him.

Baptism does not cause the new birth, remove sin, or earn salvation. Salvation is God’s gift, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism is nevertheless important because Christ commanded it. Believers are baptized not in order to be saved, but because they have been saved and desire to follow Christ in obedience.

Baptism is personal, but it is not private. Through baptism, believers publicly confess that they belong to Christ and identify themselves with His people. It marks the public beginning of a life of discipleship—not the completion of Christian growth.

Supporting Scriptures

Christ Commands Baptism

Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-41; Acts 8:26-39; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 18:8

Baptism Follows Repentance and Faith

Acts 2:37-41; Acts 8:12-13; Acts 8:35-38; Acts 16:25-34; Acts 18:8

Baptism Pictures Union with Christ

Romans 6:1-11; Galatians 3:26-29; Colossians 2:11-14

Salvation Is by Grace Through Faith

Luke 23:39-43; Acts 10:43-48; Romans 3:21-28; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7

Baptism, Conscience, and the Resurrection

I Peter 3:18-22

Baptism and Continuing Discipleship

Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47

Layman’s Terms

Baptism is a believer’s public declaration: “I belong to Jesus Christ.”

Going beneath the water pictures being buried with Christ. Rising from the water pictures His resurrection and the believer’s new life in Him.

The water does not save us, wash away our sins, or cause us to be born again. Jesus Christ saves us by grace through faith. We are baptized because He has saved us and commanded us to follow Him.

Baptism is not the end of Christian growth. It is a public beginning—a visible confession that we belong to Christ and intend to follow Him as His disciples.

Further Study

Why Baptism Is an Ordinance

The word “ordinance” emphasizes that baptism was instituted and commanded by Jesus Christ. It is therefore part of the continuing life of the Church, not an optional custom developed by later Christians. Baptism is a meaningful act of obedience through which a believer publicly expresses identification with Christ and the Gospel.

Why We Baptize Believers

The New Testament normally presents people hearing the Gospel, responding in repentance and faith, and then being baptized. Baptism is therefore the public confession of someone who has personally trusted in Jesus Christ.

For this reason, we practice the baptism of those who personally profess faith in Christ. Baptism does not produce faith or guarantee that a profession is genuine. It outwardly expresses the believer’s inward trust in Christ.

Christians have reached different conclusions about who should be baptized. Some traditions baptize the children of believers as a sign of their place within the covenant community. We should evaluate these positions carefully from Scripture, state our own conclusion clearly, and treat believers who differ with love and respect.

Why We Practice Immersion

The New Testament descriptions of baptism, together with its picture of burial and resurrection, support baptism by immersion. The believer goes beneath the water and rises again, visibly presenting identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

The manner of baptism does not save the person being baptized. Nevertheless, we believe immersion most clearly follows the New Testament pattern and communicates the meaning Scripture associates with this ordinance.

Does Baptism Save?

Scripture teaches that salvation is God’s gift, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not earned or produced through a religious ceremony.

The repentant criminal beside Jesus was promised life with Christ without having an opportunity to be baptized. Cornelius and those with him received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water. These passages help distinguish salvation itself from the believer’s subsequent act of obedience.

I Peter 3:21 says that baptism saves, but Peter immediately explains that he is not speaking about removing dirt from the body. He connects baptism with an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The saving power is not in the water but in the risen Christ to whom baptism points.

Recognizing that baptism does not save does not make it unimportant. Grace does not make obedience unnecessary. Believers are baptized because Christ commanded it and because they desire to identify publicly with Him.

Baptism and the Church

Baptism is personal, but it is not intended to be isolated from the life of the Church. In Acts, those who received the Gospel were baptized and then joined the fellowship, teaching, worship, prayer, and shared life of other believers.

Baptism publicly connects a believer’s profession of faith with the visible community of the Church. It should therefore lead into continuing discipleship, participation in the local church, and growth in obedience to Christ.

Baptism is not a spiritual graduation ceremony. It is an early act of obedience in a lifelong walk with Jesus Christ.

Memory Passage

Romans 6:3-4