The Teaching of the Bible on Baptism

Congratulations on trusting Christ as your Saviour. The first thing God wants you to do after you get saved is to get baptized. Baptism is your way of saying thank you to God for saving you. Allow me to explain what baptism is.

~ What is Baptism? ~

Baptism is a symbolic act commanded in the Bible for those who publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. When a person receives Jesus Christ as his Saviour, that is a personal decision of the heart. Jesus Commands those who receive Him as Saviour to publicly identify themselves as a child of God by being baptized. Baptism is God's method of showing you belong to Him. Baptism is the believer's opportunity to identify with other believers. Baptism is a public statement that declares you have trusted Christ and now live and act as a Christian in newness of life. Romans 6:4, "Therefore we arre buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Baptism is a Scriptural method for newborn believers to join a local church.

~ Who Should Be Baptized? ~

Every person who receives Christ as Saviour and is glad he did should be baptized. Acts 2:41, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized..." Every believer who wants to identify with Christ and Christians should be baptized. Every belivever who is grateful to God for saving his soul should be baptized.

~ How Should I Be Baptized? ~

The word baptize is translated from the Greek word Baptizo, which means to submerge or immerse or to cover fully. Jesus Christ our Saviour and example came up out of the water when He was baptized. A great example of baptism is told in Acts 8:38, "...they went down both into the water." John 3:23, "And John also was baptizing in Anon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized." Baptism is a powerful symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When you get baptized, you are showing the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection. That is why how you get baptized is so very important. Romans 6:4-5, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of this death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."

~ When Should I Be Baptized? ~

Immediately upon receiving Christ as your Saviour, or as soon afterwards as is possible, you should be baptized. Acts 8:36-37, "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 2:41, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized..." Acts 16:30-33, "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized he and all his, straightway."

~ What Happens If I Do Not Get Baptized? ~

First of all, baptism does not determine whether or not you are saved. Only Jesus Christ can save you, not baptism or any other religious action. However, baptism is one of the foundations of good Christian living. Jesus expects you to obey Him by being baptized. He died for you; you can certainly be baptized for Him. Also, there is great satisfaction and joy in the heart of the person who obeys His Saviour. Don't miss the blessing of obedience. Matthew 10:32-33, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

Now After You Are Baptized.

Congratulations on your baptism. Baptism identifies you as a child of God who wants to live a life pleasing to God in obedience to the Bible. Baptism also identifies you with our local congregation as a member of our church. We welcome you to the family of God and the Victory Baptist Church family