What is baptism?

What does it mean?

1. Baptism is a way to identify with Jesus. You are saying "I'm with Him, following Him". You are publicly letting everyone see this.

2. It's acting out what Jesus has done for you. As you go under the water and come up again it signifies that you count yourself included in Jesus' death burial and resurrection life. Romans 6:4 NLT 'We died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.'

3. It's taking a bath. Baptism is symbolic of being made clean. It points to the fact that you have been washed clean from your sin. Acts 22: 16 NLT 'Be baptised. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.'

4. It's a funeral. Burial follows death so with baptism something has happened to you privately Ð you no longer live for yourself or your own way. That has gone or died and you have been born again, made alive to God.Baptism is the public burial following a personal death! It's publicly joining the church. You join God's family with many brothers and sisters when you repent and  believe in Jesus. God becomes your Father and so baptism is publicly declaring you now belong to His family - that is the church.

Why get baptised?

1. Jesus told us to be baptised. Matthew 28:18-20 NLT 'Jesus came and told His disciples,"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."'

2. Jesus was baptised and we are His followers. Matthew 3:13 NLT 'Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptised by John.'

3. Believers in the New Testament were baptised. 3,000 were baptised after Peter's Pentecost preach (Acts 2:41); many were baptised after hearing Phillip preach in Samaria (Acts 8:12 & 38); after his dramatic conversion Paul was baptised Acts 9:18); and he went around preaching and baptising (Acts 15: 33 and Acts 19:5).

4. It's part of our Christian beginnings. Acts 2:38 NIV 'Peter replied,"Repent and be baptised, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' Acts 16:31& 33 NLT 'Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved... then he and everyone in his family were baptised.'

What should you do about it?

Not a believer yet? Firstly trust Jesus death and resurrection was for you to make you acceptable to God, turn from your old life of wrong and sin and ask for mercy. Receive His forgiveness and new life. Now get baptised. Don't feel good enough yet? You never will be good enough Ð our qualification to get baptised is that we trust Jesus death and resurrection to make us acceptable to God. If you trust Him and turn from your sins you are ready to be baptised.

Been a Christian a long time and not baptised? Better get on with it. Why hang about in disobedience to Jesus? Get up and get baptised! Frail or unable to go under water? Speak to a leader about the problem and we can sort out a solution.

Christened and confirmed already? Baptism is for believers only. Christening for most people happened when they were so young they exercised no personal faith. The Bible gives this order to repent, believe and be baptised. Why not prayerfully consider baptism by full immersion? It will not nullify or undermine what you have had done in the past as it is not the same in personal response nor expression. Talk to an elder or small group leader about your need
and desire to be baptised and we will make the necessary arrangements