Baptism

If you were not baptized by immersion after your salvation, baptism is your next step!

What is Baptism?

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. It’s a public declaration of how Jesus changed your life and shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows them to celebrate this decision with you (Acts 16:31-34).

Baptism doesn’t save a person; it’s a picture of what God did when you got saved (1 Peter 3:21). The power that brought Jesus back to life is the same power Jesus uses to change our lives – and that’s worth getting excited about!

Why should I be Baptized?

Why does baptism matter? Jesus instructs us to be baptized and set the example by being baptized (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 1:9).

Obedience to Jesus proves we believe and follow Him. (1 John 2:3). Jesus went public about His love for us, and we ought to go public about our love for Him. Being baptized shows that we are willing to turn away from a life of sin toward Jesus because He the only one who can change us (Acts 2:38-41).

When’s the Best Time to be Baptized?

For everyone who decides to follow Jesus and accept the gift of salvation, baptism is the next step. Anyone who commits his or her life to following Jesus is ready to be baptized (Acts 8:12).

Does Grace Baptize Children?

As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but they are the ones to decide if they will commit their lives to Him (Romans 10:9).

Any instance of baptism follows a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him (Acts 10:47-48). At Grace, we wait until children are old enough to express their own decision to follow Jesus and understand the meaning of baptism. Until then, we encourage families to dedicate infant and young children to the Lord. We pledge as parents and as a church to do all we can to help raise these children up to follow Jesus and in the Word.

If your child has already asked Jesus into his life, explain what baptism is and what it means. Facilitate the conversation, but don’t dominate it. Our pastors or our Children’s Ministry Director would be happy to talk to your child as well.

What’s the Difference between Immersing, Sprinkling and other ways of Baptizing?

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).

Do I need to be Baptized Again?

If you haven’t been baptized by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, we want to help you take your next step of being baptized. Once you’ve taken that step, there’s no need to be baptized again.

There will be joy in following Jesus in baptism!