What is Baptism?

Baptism declares to the world you’ve trusted Jesus, joined God’s family, and made a commitment to follow Jesus, heart and soul. It’s pretty special!

 If you have never been baptized after salvation, baptism is your first step! Got questions?

1. What is baptism?

●        Baptism is being immersed in water as an outward expression of an inward change. It’s a public declaration of how Jesus changed your life. Being baptized is your physical action to declare that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows them to celebrate this decision with you.

●        Baptism serves as a reminder of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The power that brought Jesus back to life is the same power Jesus uses to change our lives – and that’s worth getting excited about!

2. Why should I be baptized?

●        Jesus instructs us to be baptized and sets the example by being baptized.

●        Obedience to Jesus shows we believe and follow Him. Because Jesus went public about His love for us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptized is for the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

3. When’s the best time to be baptized?

●        Baptism should coincide with someone’s decision to follow Christ.. Anyone who is ready to commit his or her life to following Jesus is ready to be baptized.

4. Do you baptize children?

●        As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but they are the ones to decide if they will commit their lives to Him.

●        Any instance of baptism follows a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him.. At FCC, we wait until children are old enough to express their own decision to follow Jesus and understand the meaning of baptism.

●        If your child is asking about baptism, explain what baptism is and what it means. Facilitate the conversation, but don’t dominate it. Our Kids’ Ministry offers a book for kids to do about baptism to help them understand. You can download it here: Drenched a Baptism Book for Kids.

5. What is baptism through immersion?

●        Baptisms in the Bible were by immersion. The original word for baptism most often referred to being immersed or submerged in water. Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the water and rising out of it.

●        Submersion in the water reminds us of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Being submerged underwater represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus raised us and gave us a fresh start in life.

6. Do I need to be baptized again?

●        If you haven’t been baptized by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, we want to help you take your next step of being baptized. Once you’ve taken that step, there’s no need to be baptized again.