Baptism is going public about your faith in Jesus and communicating to the world your heart-felt commitment to following Him. It’s the next step after salvation and going through Spiritual Foundations and Engage 101. Indicate your interest in being baptized on your Connection Card or by contacting us at [email protected].
Six Common Questions:
1.What is baptism?
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. It’s a public declaration of how Jesus changed your life. Being baptized shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows them to celebrate this decision with you (Acts 16:31-34).
Baptism doesn’t save a person; it’s a symbol and celebration of salvation (1 Peter 3:21). The power that brought Jesus back to life is the same power Jesus uses to change our lives!
2.Why should I be baptized?
Jesus instructs us to be baptized and set the example by being baptized Himself (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:9). Because Jesus went public about His love for God and us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptized says we are committed to turning away from a life of sin toward Jesus, the only one who can save us (Acts 2:38-41).
3.What is the best time to be baptized?
For everyone who decides to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step. Anyone who commits his or her life to following Jesus is ready to be baptized (Acts 8:12). We recommend taking Spiritual Foundations before baptism for greater understanding of Jesus Christ and what it means to follow Him.
4.Do you baptize children?
As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but they are the ones to decide if they will commit their lives to Him (Romans 10:9). Any instance of baptism comes after a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him (Acts 10:47-48).
At First Church, we wait until children are old enough to express their own decision to follow Jesus and understand the meaning of baptism. If your child has already asked Jesus into his or her life, facilitate talking about baptism using the guide, “Talking to Your Kids about Baptism (available at the Welcome Center).
5.How is one baptized?
Baptisms in the Bible were by immersion. The original word for baptism most often referred to being immersed or submerged in water. Jesus was baptized by being immersed in water and rising out of it (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10).
Submersion in water symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Being submersed underwater represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus raised us and gave us a fresh start in life (Romans 6:3-5).
6.Do I need to be baptized again?
If you haven’t been baptized by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, we want to help you take your next step of being baptized. Once you’ve taken that step, there’s no need to be baptized again. If baptism is your next step, sign up on the Connection Card or contact the pastor. Baptism is often the next step after completing the Engage 101 classes.
Six Common Questions:
1.What is baptism?
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. It’s a public declaration of how Jesus changed your life. Being baptized shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows them to celebrate this decision with you (Acts 16:31-34).
Baptism doesn’t save a person; it’s a symbol and celebration of salvation (1 Peter 3:21). The power that brought Jesus back to life is the same power Jesus uses to change our lives!
2.Why should I be baptized?
Jesus instructs us to be baptized and set the example by being baptized Himself (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:9). Because Jesus went public about His love for God and us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptized says we are committed to turning away from a life of sin toward Jesus, the only one who can save us (Acts 2:38-41).
3.What is the best time to be baptized?
For everyone who decides to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step. Anyone who commits his or her life to following Jesus is ready to be baptized (Acts 8:12). We recommend taking Spiritual Foundations before baptism for greater understanding of Jesus Christ and what it means to follow Him.
4.Do you baptize children?
As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but they are the ones to decide if they will commit their lives to Him (Romans 10:9). Any instance of baptism comes after a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him (Acts 10:47-48).
At First Church, we wait until children are old enough to express their own decision to follow Jesus and understand the meaning of baptism. If your child has already asked Jesus into his or her life, facilitate talking about baptism using the guide, “Talking to Your Kids about Baptism (available at the Welcome Center).
5.How is one baptized?
Baptisms in the Bible were by immersion. The original word for baptism most often referred to being immersed or submerged in water. Jesus was baptized by being immersed in water and rising out of it (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10).
Submersion in water symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Being submersed underwater represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus raised us and gave us a fresh start in life (Romans 6:3-5).
6.Do I need to be baptized again?
If you haven’t been baptized by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, we want to help you take your next step of being baptized. Once you’ve taken that step, there’s no need to be baptized again. If baptism is your next step, sign up on the Connection Card or contact the pastor. Baptism is often the next step after completing the Engage 101 classes.