Baptism is our way of showing the world and God that we are serious about our relationship with Him. It is our outward confession of our inward faith. The Bible is very clear when it says that we should “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). Therefore, baptism is the first command we seek to obey when we begin a relationship with Him.
HAS YOUR CHILD ASKED ABOUT BAPTISM?
Read through the baptism interest packet, designed for parents whose child is interested in getting baptized.
We have baptisms twice a year at Beachcities. Keep an eye out for more info on our next baptism weekend.
Questions About Baptism
People often have questions regarding baptism. Take a few minutes to read the answers to these five common questions about baptism.
To follow the example set by Jesus.
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river. —Mark 1:9
Because Christ commands it.
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.”—Matthew 28:19-20
Because it demonstrates that we really are Christians.
We know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands.—1 John 2:3
Baptism symbolizes Christ’s death and resurrection. …Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and…He was buried and…He was raised on the third day….—1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Baptism illustrates your new life as a Christian.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away.—2 Corinthians 5:17
1. Every person who has believed in Christ.
Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized. —Acts 2:41
2. Our children only when they are old enough to believe and understand.
Note: Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children, a ceremony that is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on behalf of the child. In this, the parents promise to raise their child in the faith until he or she is old enough to make his/her own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed, and it is very different from the baptism talked about in the Bible which was only for those old enough to believe.
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 the water and rising out of it (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10).
Submersion in the 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).
If you haven’t been baptized by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, we want to help you take the next step of your journey of faith by being baptized. Once you’ve taken that step, there’s no need to be baptized again.
