What We Believe About Baptism

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He tells us what to do, and we gladly do it.

It doesn't need to be creatively thought through, changed up, or dressed up. We fill the tank, and we baptize in the water.

That is the spirit of this whole kit. Baptism is simple. Most of our job is to teach it clearly and get out of the way.

The short version

We practice believer's baptism. A person is baptized after they have given their life to Jesus, as their own public response to him.

Baptism does not wash sins away. Jesus does that.

Why we baptize

1. Obedience to a command. Matthew 28:19 (opens the passage on Bible.com). "Baptism is the first step of obedience, then the great commission. How can we be obedient to the great commission without having first been baptized?"
2. Jesus instituted baptism as a practice for His church. There are two ordinances in Scripture, the Lord's Supper and baptism. "An ordinance is prescribed by Jesus and practiced by the Church. The church practices these ordinances because Jesus told us to do so."
3. The early church baptized. Philip and the Ethiopian official (Acts 8:36-39 (opens the passage on Bible.com)), the conversion of Paul (Acts 9:18 (opens the passage on Bible.com)), the jailer and his household (Acts 16:30-33 (opens the passage on Bible.com)), and Ananias to Paul (Acts 22:14-16 (opens the passage on Bible.com)).
4. Jesus led by example and was Himself baptized. "Jesus modeled perfect obedience to the Father." See Mark 1:9-11 (opens the passage on Bible.com) and Matthew 3:16 (opens the passage on Bible.com).

A question to put to people

If Jesus was baptized, why do I think I don't need to be baptized? If Jesus commanded that I be baptized, why do I think I don't need to be baptized?

Three reasons in one breath

1. Following the example of Jesus
2. An outward expression of an inward transformation
3. Obeying Jesus' commands

What baptism is not

Baptism is not required for salvation. It is not when you are filled with the Spirit. It is not for washing your sins away.

Baptism does not save you, but declares your salvation in Christ.

Salvation leads to baptism, but baptism does not lead to salvation.

Two passages people ask about

• Acts 2:38 (opens the passage on Bible.com). Forgiveness comes through repentance and faith in Jesus, and baptism is the public response that goes with it, not the thing that removes sin.
• Acts 22:16 (opens the passage on Bible.com). Sins are washed away by calling on his name, and baptism is the outward picture of that cleansing.

Read both passages with the person if the question comes up. Be clear and unhurried. This is worth getting right.

Who we baptize

Every "born again" believer in Jesus.

Faith and repentance always precede baptism. If you've never repented of your sins and put your faith in Christ, that is the first step. The next step is believer's baptism.

Passages that show repentance, faith and baptism together: Matthew 3:5-6 (opens the passage on Bible.com) · Acts 2:38 (opens the passage on Bible.com) · Acts 19:4 (opens the passage on Bible.com) · Acts 22:16 (opens the passage on Bible.com) · Acts 16:31 (opens the passage on Bible.com) · Romans 10:9 (opens the passage on Bible.com).

Three ways I say it

It is an outward expression of an inward decision to follow Christ.

It is a public declaration of a private decision.

It is a physical picture of a spiritual reality.

More than water

Baptism is more than water, it's a moment of identification of being a disciple (follower) of Jesus. It's your first and most profound message you could ever preach and all you have to say is "yes."

How we baptize

We believe the Bible clearly instructs baptism by immersion.

• It pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Romans 6:1-4 (opens the passage on Bible.com); Colossians 2:12 (opens the passage on Bible.com).
• It pictures the believer dying to self and being raised to walk a new life in Jesus Christ.
• The word itself. "Baptism: the word in Greek is baptizo. It means to dunk, wash, or immerse."
• The pattern in the text. Jesus "went up immediately from the water" (Matthew 3:16 (opens the passage on Bible.com)). Philip and the official "went down into the water" and "came up out of the water" (Acts 8:38-39 (opens the passage on Bible.com)).

You are identifying in His death and His life.

Baptism, membership and communion

• Baptism is required for church membership.
• Baptism is not required for communion.
• Communion is for believers only.

Baptized before?

I do not believe in "rebaptism." I believe in being baptized.

• Someone who believed, was baptized, walked away and has come back is not baptized again.
• Someone who was baptized as an infant is baptized as a follower of Jesus.
• Someone who was baptized before they gave their life to Christ is baptized.
• Someone who was baptized as a religious tradition, or because their parents wanted it, and not as their own act of obedience, is baptized.

If the Holy Spirit is convicting you of baptism, don't delay.

Resource 2 covers how to talk this through with a person.

Seven reasons people haven't been baptized

Name them out loud when you teach. Most people are sitting on one of them.

1. You were never taught the importance of it
2. Your religious tradition is holding you back
3. You are afraid of water or being seen wet
4. You are afraid of what others might think
5. You don't think it's that big of a deal
6. You are prideful
7. You believe in God, but choose to live in disobedience to Him

Numbers 1 (opens the passage on Bible.com) to 5 usually need teaching and a little reassurance. Numbers 6 (opens the passage on Bible.com) and 7 are heart matters, and a direct, kind conversation is what helps. For number 3, tell people exactly what will happen in the water. Fear shrinks when the steps are clear.

When? As soon as possible

I'm going to ask you the same question that Ananias asked Paul: why are you delaying?

We've made baptism an experience meant to create a moment for you to feel something, instead of what it is biblically, which is immediate obedience to God.

Make it yours

Write your own church's position in a few plain sentences before you use the rest of this kit. If you cannot say it simply, the person in front of you will not be able to either.