BAPTISM
What is Baptism?
Simply put, Christian baptism is the immersion of a person into water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In the final chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus commissions his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20a).
Jesus tells us not just how to baptize, but why: it’s a part of the disciple-making process. These verses from Matthew are often called “The Great Commission,” and that’s because these verses give us the most summarized mission of the church: to make disciples. If the goal is to make disciples, then baptism must be involved.
The Apostle Paul also speaks on the significance of baptism. He compares it to the death of Jesus: Just as Jesus was buried and rose from the grave, we are buried and raise from the waters. Except the person who comes out of the water has a new life!
“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).
Where Is Baptism in the Bible?
We find baptism all throughout the New Testament!
Jesus actually begins his ministry by being baptized (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22).
There were about 3000 people who accepted Jesus after Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentacost (Acts 2:41).
Several times throughout the book of Acts, baptism is an immediate response hearing the Gospel message and believing in Jesus (Acts 8:13, 35-40; 9:18; 10:44-48; just to name a few)!
In Paul’s letters to various churches, he talks a lot about the theology of baptism (Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12-13).
Baptism was clearly an important practice in the early church, which is why it’s an important practice for us too!
Why Should I Be Baptized?
After the Apostle Peter gave the first sermon to the church, the audience—impacted by the message of Jesus Christ—asked Peter how they should respond. “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,” (Acts 2:38a).
Why should someone be baptized? Because it is a response to the Good News that Jesus Christ has saved you from your sins. And the Apostle Peter specifically connects it to the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus makes a similar comment at the end of Mark’s Gospel: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned,” (Mark 16:16).
Therefore we believe that anyone who has faith in Jesus should be baptized, as it is a public proclamation of faith and marks the moment when someone begins their new life as a Christian—dedicated to living for and like Jesus every day.