Baptism

Pat's Baptism

The Bible often talks about the importance of being baptized. However, there are a lot of misunderstandings and different beliefs on what baptism is, how people are baptized, and when people should be baptized. It is important for you to know what the Bible says about baptism and to understand the biblical principles that are followed in our church.

You can now sign up to be baptized by clicking the Next Step Form or you can continue reading for a more detailed discussion. Be sure to read the FAQ about baptism following the discussion below.

Baptism Image Click to Watch Baptism Video: RealVideo icon

Biblical Baptism

With all of the various views of baptism among Christians, what does the Bible have to say? Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19). It is the wonderful privilege and honor of all who become Christ's followers by faith to be baptized, and thus to identify themselves with Jesus as His disciples. Since baptism is mentioned by Jesus in the context of becoming His disciple, it is clear that one must be a believer in Christ to be baptized, and this is consistent with the practice of the early church (Acts 18:8). Throughout the book of Acts, those who heard the gospel and believed in Christ were baptized, and we who believe in Christ today still have the privilege of obeying Him in this way.

What is baptism?

Peter calls baptism "the answer (or response) of a good conscience toward God" (1 Peter 3:21). Our consciences are cleansed and our sins forgiven when we believe (Acts 13:38-39; Hebrews 9:14), and now our cleansed hearts want to respond to God with a glad confession that we are His disciples. Baptism is Jesus' appointed way for us to do this.

Who should be baptized?

Baptism is for all believers in Christ and only for believers. Since it is the outward confession of faith in Christ, baptism loses its meaning if the person has not yet believed. The consistent pattern in the book of Acts is to believe, and then be baptized. "Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized" (Acts 18:8; see also Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:35-38; Acts 16:30-34). If you have put your faith in Christ, you should confess your faith as soon as possible by being baptized.

Those gathered at the home of Cornelius illustrate the fact that baptism does not save us, but is for those already saved. They heard the gospel, believed, and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:43-44). It was when Peter saw that they were saved and had received the Spirit that he commanded them to be baptized (Acts 10:47-48).

What does baptism point to?

Water baptism points to spiritual realities accomplished in us by The Holy Spirit. The Spirit baptizes those who believe into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). In doing so, the Spirit unites believers with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection to a whole new life. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4). The form of baptism that best symbolizes these realities is the total immersion of the person being baptized.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to someone who believes in Christ, but dies before being baptized?

Since salvation is by faith (Ephesians 2:8), this person would go to be with the Lord. One example of this is the repentant thief who was crucified with Jesus, to whom Jesus promised, "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). Similarly, there may be some today who die before they have the opportunity to be baptized, or who were not taught of their need to be baptized, or even those who, for other reasons known only to them, chose not to be baptized. This should not be used as an excuse to put off being baptized as quickly as possible after believing in Jesus. Indeed, someone who stubbornly refuses to be baptized has good reason to question whether they have truly believed.

Doesn't the baptism of infants include them in the Church just as circumcision included infants in the Old Covenant with Israel?

This is typically the position of most, though not all, Presbyterian and Reformed churches. There are significant differences between Israel and the Church, however, and between circumcision and baptism. The Old Covenant was made with a nation, the children of Israel (Exodus 19:5-6); the Church is composed of individuals who believe from many nations (Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 2:11-22). Circumcision was for every eight-day-old male child, long before he could have personal faith (Genesis 17:9-12); baptism is for believers, both male and female (Acts 8:12). A new infant in Israel became part of the nation simply by being born to an Israelite, and if a male, circumcised. But who was added to the early church? "Those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). And who was baptized? "Those who gladly received his word" (Acts 2:41). Baptism and inclusion in the body of Christ is for those who have believed. We should not confuse God's plan for Old Testament Israel with His plan for the New Testament church.

Aren't there examples of children being baptized in the New Testament?

Children probably, but not infants. Anyone who is old enough to believe is old enough to be baptized. Those who baptize infants sometimes point to the fact that the New Testament occasionally mentions whole households being baptized. The clearest example of this is in Acts 16, where Paul and Silas tell the Philippian jailor, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31). Notice what follows. "They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house" (verse 32). "He and all his family were baptized" (verse 33). He had "believed in God with all his household" (verse 34). The jailor's household may have included children; we are not told. But whoever it included, they were old enough to have the word of the Lord spoken to them and to believe. And since they all believed, they all were baptized. Any child who is old enough to hear and believe the gospel can then be scripturally baptized.

If I was baptized as an infant, should I be re-baptized after I believe in Christ?

Yes. Since baptism is for believers, what your parents had done for you when you were an infant was well-intentioned, but not really baptism according to scripture. They are certainly to be commended for taking an interest in your spiritual life and desiring to bring you up in faith, but the Biblical pattern is still this: believe and then be baptized. Therefore, to be baptized as a believer is not "re-baptism" at all; it is being scripturally baptized for the first time. Some of the Grace staff have experienced this very thing. For example, Barry's parents had him baptized in the United Church of Christ as an infant. Scott's parents had him baptized in the United Methodist Church as a 12-year-old, but he would tell you, he was not yet a believer but just going through the motions. Others on staff have similar stories. Since then each of us has come to personal faith in Christ and then been scripturally baptized as believers.

What happens to children who die before they are old enough to believe?

While the Bible does not specifically address this issue, it does give us some very clear direction. In 2 Samuel 12, King David's infant son was very ill, so David fasted and prayed for the child to live. When his son died, David ended his fast, and his servants questioned why he was no longer fasting. David replied, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." (2 Samuel 12:22-23). David expected to go to where the child was when he died. Since David also expected to be in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:9-11), he evidently believed that his son would be there as well. Like David, we can trust in the mercy of the Lord to take care of our young children who die before they are old enough to understand and believe the gospel.

What is our attitude toward other churches who disagree with us about baptism?

While there are levels of fellowship between churches, generally we are in fellowship with those who believe and teach the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Since understanding baptism correctly is not essential to salvation, we can treat those who believe differently about baptism as brothers and sisters in Christ, as long as they are trusting in Christ alone for salvation. At the same time, we are committed to practicing and teaching baptism as taught in the scriptures.