What We Believe About Baptism

In defining scriptural baptism , we first need to remove any doubt or seed of confusion as to what Baptism is not. Baptism is not the agency or means of Salvation. By this we mean that Baptism has never saved anyone nor ever will it. Our salvation only comes by receiving and believing in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, then and only then are we ready to outwardly demonstrate our inward profession through baptism.

" For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith --and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

What does Baptism mean? Going Public

When Jesus began His teaching ministry at 30 years of age, he started it by being baptized.

"At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan . As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove." Mark 1:9-10 (NIV)

Jesus made baptism part of his ministry and part of our mission . Baptism is not man's idea. It was God's idea. It is not some denominational thing. It is a Biblical thing . It started with John the Baptist at the beginning of the gospels and the practice was picked up by the church not because of their own wisdom, but because Jesus commanded it when at the end of his earthly ministry. Jesus said .

" Therefore 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 (NIV)

When did it all begin? Pentecost

On the birthday of the Church, the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached a Sermon and that day there were 3,000 more Christ followers - 3,000 changed lives. How did they tell their friends and family of their new faith? They were baptized! In Acts 2:38-41 we read .

"Peter replied, " Repent and be baptized , every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call. With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." Acts 2:38-41 (NIV)

One of the first steps of obedience in the Christian life is Baptism. Jesus Christ directed every Believer to be baptized.

When Philip was engaged in conversation with an Ethiopian eunuch who was traveling on business .

"As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, " Look, here is water . Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:36-39 (NIV)

FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

What does baptism really mean?

"Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life ." Romans 6:3-4 (NIV)

". having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." Colossians 2:12 (NIV)

How should a person be baptized?

Baptism - A public profession of our repentance and faith in God through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The English word- "baptism" -is a transliteration of the original New Testament Greek word- "baptizein" - which means to dip into water.

We baptize by full immersion.....

because of the implications of the word itself.
because it was the norm in Scripture.
because the symbolism of the act requires it.

Should babies be baptized?

In the entire New Testament , and indeed in all the first two centuries of Christendom, baptism was the baptism of believers , not infants. Not until 200 A.D. when Tertullian mentions infant baptism for the first time in any historical document, is it even considered.

And the reason was that baptism was the sign of belonging to the new people of God who are constituted not by birth or ethnic identity, but by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ . Here at The Fellowship we hold a dedication service for parents and children to commit and set apart our children to the Lord.

Does being baptized save me from my sin?

No ! - It's not like spiritual Clorox!

". who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God . It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." 1 Peter 3:20-22 (NIV)

Paul does not mean that faith alone fails to save. He means that faith calls on God . That's what faith does. Peter is saying, "Baptism is the God-ordained, symbolic expression of that call to God. It is an appeal to God - either in the form of repentance or in the form of commitment."

If I don't get baptized will I still go to heaven?

Yes! Listen what the bible teaches .