Baptism

Baptism is the beginning of our faith and our gateway into the Church.

It is the first of three Sacraments of Initiation. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word”.

woman in grey t-shirt and black pants in water

How it works

What is Baptism?

Baptism is an important sacrament of the church, marked by the ceremonial use of water, inducting a believer into the Christian church. These Bible verses about baptism encourage people to repent of their sins, put their faith in Jesus, and receive the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist immersed people in the water who repented of their sins and turned to God. The ceremony came to represent the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:1-14).

Early followers of Christ were baptized with water symbolizing that although they were spiritually dead because of their sins, they were raised to new life through faith in Christ.

John the Baptist told his followers that Jesus, the lamb of God, would come to take away the sins of the world, (John 1: 29) and he would baptize people with fire. John’s prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when thousands of people turned from their sins and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The following scripture verses help us have a fuller understanding of the meaning of baptism.

Luke 3:21-22
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily forms, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.”

Baptism of the Holy Spirit John 1:33

I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”

Baptized in Christ Romans 6:3-4

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Baptism Process

Find some water

A person may be baptized anywhere – a river, pool, bathtub, hot tub, lake or the ocean. The Bible does not limit where someone must be baptized because the power of God’s forgiveness is in Jesus and not the water.

Go into the water

If the water source is large enough (like a pool, river, or baptistry), then you may go into the water with the one being baptized. If it is too small (like a bathtub), then just kneel next to the person as he/she sits down into the water.

Take their confession of faith

Ask, “Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? And do you trust Jesus as your Savior and commit to obey Jesus as your Lord?”

What to say

Say, “I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” (This is what Jesus taught us to say in Matthew 28:19)

Lay the person down into the water and back up

Full immersion best represents dying to our old selves and being reborn in Jesus, but don’t be alarmed if someone’s elbow or toe pops up during the baptism. Jesus does the saving – not the water. Bonus point: Have the person hold his/her nose.