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- Baptism is an outward expression of an inward commitment. It is a visible, tangible, physical expression of the spiritual commitment we have made to Christ in order to receive salvation.
- Baptism illustrates Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
• That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (I Corinthians 15:3-4)
• 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)
- Baptism illustrates my new life as a Christian.
• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (II Corinthians 5:17)
• 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 6:4)
- Baptism doesn’t make you a Christian. Only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is the outward sign of the commitment you have made in your heart.
Every person who has believed in Christ should be baptized. Believers are people who realize that their sin separates them from God. They have given up all efforts to reach God through good works or religious activity. They understand that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for their sins is the only thing that can bridge the gap between themselves and God. A Believer is someone who has decided to trust in Christ alone for salvation. If you have come to that point in your spiritual journey, then you are ready to be baptized. (Acts 2:41; 8:12-13)
To follow the example set by Christ.
• At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (Mark 1:9) Because Christ commanded it.
• 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, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you... (Matthew 28:19-20)
Because Jesus was baptized that way.
• As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water... (Matthew 3:16)
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion.
• ...then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water... (Acts 8:38-39)
The word for baptize used in the Bible means to immerse.
It symbolizes a death and burial of your old self and a resurrection of a new life with Christ. (Romans 6:1-11)
In the Bible we see parents bringing children to Jesus. He held them and prayed for them and told us to welcome them, but He never baptized them nor did He tell anyone else to baptize them. All instances of baptism followed an individual’s decision to trust Christ alone for one’s own salvation. (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:47-48)
At Liberty, we wait until children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of what it means to be a Christian and to be baptized before we baptize them.
Liberty does encourage parents to dedicate their children to the Lord through a Parent and Baby Dedication Service that we observe twice a year. If you were sprinkled as a child or an adult, baptism by immersion does not invalidate what parents or spiritual mentors might have done for you. Baptism by immersion is a step of willful obedience in your spiritual journey.
You should be baptized soon after you have believed.
• Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41)
• Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 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?’ Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The eunuch answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. (Acts 8:35-38) Baptism is an expression of obedience to the commands of Jesus. The Bible clearly teaches that baptism should follow your decision to become a follower of Christ. You should not be baptized based on your feelings.
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