Baptism

Your decision to obey the Lord in water baptism will be one of the most significant decisions you will make as a follower of Jesus Christ.  When you get baptized you will be physically expressing what happened to you when you repented and believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.  You will go under water—signifying the old life is dead and buried.  Then you will come up out of the water—signifying rising to newness of life in Jesus Christ.  Baptism is a beautiful picture of what happens to all believers when they turn to Christ.  (Rom 6:3-4)

Why should I be baptized?Before he left the earth, Jesus commanded us to make disciples by calling for a public act of faith—an open identification with Jesus in his death and burial and resurrection. The book of Acts knows nothing of non-baptized Christians.  They understood that they were identifying with Christ and His church (I Cor 12:13), and they obeyed the Great Commission. (Matt 28:19-20)In the New Testament, believing in Christ and being baptized are very closely related. This is the New Testament way to follow Christ: repent, believe, and express that in baptism. (Acts 2:38)

Who should be baptized?Only believers are baptized.  The New Testament knows nothing of baptizing nonbelievers or infants.  Small children (under the age of eight or nine) may not be spiritually mature enough to fully understand the meaning and significance of baptism.  We encourage parents to communicate clearly with their children  in order to determine whether or not they truly understand the gospel and the meaning of water baptism.  This special time of dedication to the Lord should be a lasting and meaningful memory for each believer.