Baptism FAQ

Who Should Be Baptized?

The Bible clearly teaches that baptism is reserved only for those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and accepted Him into their heart.

Why Should We Be Baptized?

1. God commands that believers be baptized.
   Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

   We demonstrate our love for Christ by our obedience to His commands.

2. The Apostles taught obedience to Christ’s commands.
   Acts 10:47-48 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

3. The baptism of Jesus is an example of obedience.

   Mark 1:9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.

4. The baptism of Jesus is a picture of identification–His baptism identified Him with mankind and its sin. His baptism also identified the remedy for sin – His death, burial and resurrection.

   Baptism is a public statement of one’s faith in Jesus Christ, identifying the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

5. Baptism also symbolizes our death to the old life of sin and proclaims our resurrection to a new life in Christ.

Romans 6:2-4 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

How Should I Be Baptized?
The only method of baptism taught in the Bible is immersion.

1. The word “baptize” means “to immerse”.

2. Jesus was immersed in His baptism.

   Matthew 3:16

3. Immersion is the only method of baptism that properly identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
   Colossians 2:12

   When we are immersed in water we identify ourselves with Christ in His death. Arising out of the water, we declare our faith in His resurrection.

4. The New Testament church baptized by immersion.

   Acts 8:36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”

   Acts 8:38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

When Should We Be Baptized?

1. Baptism should take place after conversion.
   Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ. We are not baptized to obtain salvation. We are baptized to publicly proclaim that we have already believed and received God’s salvation in Jesus Christ.
   Acts 8:12

2. Baptism should take place at the first opportunity after conversion.

   Acts 8:36 Acts 16:33

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Thenhe and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.