YOUR FIRST STEP AS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS
Baptism is our public testimony that we have repented of our sins and trusted Christ by faith. Baptism is the first step of obedience to those who have been born again. Baptism does not save a person, however it is essential to church membership and your future growth in Christ.
Baptism is a symbolic act of obedience in which a person declares their faith in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.
The professing believer is gently lowered under the water until they are completely submerged and they are immediately lifted back up out of the water by the person performing the baptism.
The Greek word “baptizō” means to fully submerge or immerse and from it we derive our English word of “baptism”. The symbolism of this ordinance is really two parts:
- Baptism symbolizes the transformation Jesus has made in a person’s life. When someone goes under the water, it represents the “burial” of their old way of living. When they are raised from the water, it symbolizes beginning a new life with different priorities and values.
- This mirrors the story of Jesus, who died, was buried, and was resurrected back to life. The person being baptized is identifying in a physical way with what Jesus has accomplished one their behalf.
While baptism doesn’t make you a Christian or wash away your sins—only believing in Jesus can do that—it’s a way to show others “I have decided to follow Jesus, and I want to publicly proclaim it”.
Baptism is seen as an initial step of commitment to living according to Jesus’s teachings. Jesus himself instructed his followers to be baptized, saying, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19-20).
This instruction shows that Jesus considered baptism an important practice for those who follow him.
If you were baptized as a baby, it was likely a meaningful ceremony for your family.
However, we believe that baptism is meant to follow a personal decision to trust and follow Jesus. If you’ve now made that decision for yourself, we encourage you to be baptized as a believer.
This isn’t about rejecting your family’s traditions, but about taking a personal step of obedience and publicly declaring your faith and personal commitment to Jesus.
If you’ve made a decision to follow Jesus and understand what baptism represents, there’s no reason to wait. In the Bible, people were typically baptized soon after they decided to follow Jesus.
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?
If you're ready to be baptized and publicly declare your faith, we'd love to support you! Fill out the form below, and one of our pastors will connect with you to answer any questions and guide you through the process. This is an exciting moment in your journey with Jesus, and we're here to help you celebrate it!