Baptism.
A Public Declaration.
Baptism doesn't make you a Christian. It declares to the world that you belong to Jesus Christ.
A Picture of
a Changed Life.
Baptism is one of the clearest public declarations a follower of Jesus can make.
When a believer is baptized, they are identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a declaration that the old life is gone and a new life has begun.
At First Baptist, we celebrate baptism because we celebrate what Jesus has done in the lives of those who trust Him.
What Does
Baptism Mean?
Baptism is not an empty religious tradition. Scripture shows us what baptism means, why we practice it, and why it matters.
Baptism Publicly
Declares Repentance.
There are people who have been baptized but have never truly repented. Yet throughout Scripture, baptism is connected to repentance and faith.
Baptism is not simply a religious ceremony. It is a public declaration that we have turned from our sin and surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ.
It symbolizes leaving behind our old life of sin and entering a new life of faith and obedience. Getting wet is not the same thing as being born again.
Baptism
by Immersion.
At First Baptist, we baptize believers by immersion for two reasons.
First, immersion reflects the pattern we see in Scripture. The Greek word baptizo means to dip, immerse, or submerge.
Second, immersion illustrates what baptism represents. Being lowered beneath the water pictures burial with Christ. Being raised from the water pictures our new life in Him.
Baptism Is Evidence
of Salvation.
Baptism is not a condition of salvation. It is evidence of salvation.
We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by the act of baptism. Scripture teaches that salvation comes through trusting in the finished work of Christ.
Think of baptism like a wedding ring. A ring does not make you married. It is an outward symbol of a covenant already made. In the same way, baptism does not create salvation. It declares the salvation we have received.
This is why we baptize those who have personally trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Baptism Is
Incredibly Important.
Although baptism does not save us, it is not optional in the sense of being unimportant. Jesus commanded His followers to be baptized.
Baptism is an act of obedience and a public testimony of our new identity in Christ. It declares that we no longer belong to the kingdom of darkness. We belong to Jesus.
Baptism is a defining moment when a believer publicly identifies with Christ and His Church.
"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."
Ready to Be Baptized?
If you've trusted Jesus Christ and haven't been baptized, we'd love to talk with you about taking this next step of obedience.
