What is baptism?
Why be baptized?
"Go therefore 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
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
Matthew 28:19
To be found in Christ means to personally received Him as your savior. Once you have done that, you are forgiven.
Baptism is an important next step in your walk with Him.
First, Jesus commands His followers to baptize believers (Matthew 28:19). Because Jesus is Lord and His will is always good, His command gives us every reason to respond with obedience. Baptism is a public expression of your commitment to follow Christ and an important step in being formed as His disciple.
Baptism is also an opportunity to influence others spiritually. When you publicly identify with Jesus, you give others a visible picture of what it means to follow Him. Your obedience may encourage another person to take a step toward Christ and, ultimately, help us find the lost and point them to Jesus.
Baptism does not earn God’s forgiveness or acceptance, it is a response to the grace you have already received through Christ. It is a way of saying, “I belong to Jesus, and I am committed to following Him.”
Baptism is an important next step in your walk with Him.
First, Jesus commands His followers to baptize believers (Matthew 28:19). Because Jesus is Lord and His will is always good, His command gives us every reason to respond with obedience. Baptism is a public expression of your commitment to follow Christ and an important step in being formed as His disciple.
Baptism is also an opportunity to influence others spiritually. When you publicly identify with Jesus, you give others a visible picture of what it means to follow Him. Your obedience may encourage another person to take a step toward Christ and, ultimately, help us find the lost and point them to Jesus.
Baptism does not earn God’s forgiveness or acceptance, it is a response to the grace you have already received through Christ. It is a way of saying, “I belong to Jesus, and I am committed to following Him.”
Baptism also gives you an opportunity to publicly express your faith in Jesus. Friends and family members who do not yet know Christ will often attend baptism services, and many are deeply impacted by the stories of those who have chosen to follow Him. Your baptism can become a powerful opportunity to point others to Jesus and help them see what it means to be found in Christ.
At the same time, your obedience encourages other believers. Seeing someone take this step of faith strengthens and inspires the church to continue growing as disciples and faithfully sharing the message of Jesus. In this way, your baptism is more than a personal expression of faith, it can be a way God uses you to help find the lost.
At the same time, your obedience encourages other believers. Seeing someone take this step of faith strengthens and inspires the church to continue growing as disciples and faithfully sharing the message of Jesus. In this way, your baptism is more than a personal expression of faith, it can be a way God uses you to help find the lost.
What Should you wear to be baptized?
For your baptism, choose comfortable, casual clothing that you do not mind getting wet. Darker colors are recommended, as lighter colors can become transparent when wet. We encourage everyone being baptized to bring a change of clothes, a towel, and, if needed, a hair dryer. For safety and practicality, all shoes and jewelry must be removed before you are baptized.
How long after surrendering your life to christ should you wait before being baptized?
We encourage those who have placed their faith in Christ to be baptized soon after making that commitment. Throughout the book of Acts, we see baptism taking place as an immediate response to faith. The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized shortly after beginning his journey with Christ (Acts 8). In Acts 10, Cornelius and his household were baptized soon after professing their faith, and in Acts 16, the jailer and his family were baptized that same night after believing in Jesus.
These examples show us that baptism was not treated as something to put off, but as an important step of obedience for those who had been found in Christ. While baptism does not save us, it is a meaningful way to publicly identify with Jesus and take a step toward being formed as His disciple. When we delay obedience, it can become easier to continue putting it off. If you have trusted in Christ but have not yet been baptized, we encourage you to take that next step of faith and obedience.
These examples show us that baptism was not treated as something to put off, but as an important step of obedience for those who had been found in Christ. While baptism does not save us, it is a meaningful way to publicly identify with Jesus and take a step toward being formed as His disciple. When we delay obedience, it can become easier to continue putting it off. If you have trusted in Christ but have not yet been baptized, we encourage you to take that next step of faith and obedience.
why do we dunk?
We encourage those who have placed their faith in Christ to be baptized soon after making that commitment. Throughout the book of Acts, we see baptism taking place as an immediate response to faith. The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized shortly after beginning his journey with Christ (Acts 8). In Acts 10, Cornelius and his household were baptized soon after professing their faith, and in Acts 16, the jailer and his family were baptized that same night after believing in Jesus.
These examples show us that baptism was not treated as something to put off, but as an important step of obedience for those who had been found in Christ. While baptism does not save us, it is a meaningful way to publicly identify with Jesus and take a step toward being formed as His disciple. When we delay obedience, it can become easier to continue putting it off. If you have trusted in Christ but have not yet been baptized, we encourage you to take that next step of faith and obedience.
These examples show us that baptism was not treated as something to put off, but as an important step of obedience for those who had been found in Christ. While baptism does not save us, it is a meaningful way to publicly identify with Jesus and take a step toward being formed as His disciple. When we delay obedience, it can become easier to continue putting it off. If you have trusted in Christ but have not yet been baptized, we encourage you to take that next step of faith and obedience.
involving your family and friends
Your baptism is also a wonderful opportunity to share your faith with friends and family members who do not yet believe in Jesus. We strongly encourage you to invite them to this celebration. Hearing your story and seeing your commitment to follow Christ may open the door for them to consider the gospel and even take their own step of faith. As you celebrate being found in Christ and formed as His disciple, your baptism can become an opportunity to help find the lost and point them toward Jesus.
How Do I Know If I Am Ready to Be Baptized?
You may be ready to be baptized if you have personally trusted in Jesus and understand that your salvation comes through Him. You should also be able to clearly explain why you want to be baptized and what baptism represents. Your decision should be your own choice to follow Christ, rather than something you are doing because of pressure or expectations from others.
Finally, baptism should be a meaningful decision that you are old enough to understand and remember. It is a significant moment in your journey of being found in Christ and formed as His disciple—a step you can look back on as a lasting reminder of your commitment to follow Jesus.