BAPTISM
ABOUT BAPTISM
Baptism is an important step of obedience that shows others we have personally trusted Jesus for our salvation. When Christians are baptized, they are submerged under water to identify with the death and burial of Jesus, and raised out of the water to identify with His resurrection. We believe that water baptism is a public declaration of three important things: you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are beginning a changed life in Christ, and you are part of a new family.
BAPTISM FACTS
WHY BE BAPTIZED?
Those who are baptized are following Jesus’ example and obeying His command. “And when Jesus was baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight!” [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1.] (Matthew 3:16-17 AMP)
“Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).” (Matthew 28:18-20 AMP)
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM?
Water baptism is a public declaration of three very important things: You are a follower of Jesus Christ-“Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized… (Acts 2:41 AMP); you are beginning a changed life in Christ- “We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.”(Romans 6:4 AMP); you are part of a new family-” For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many as were baptized into Christ have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27 AMP).
I HAVE ALREADY BEEN BAPTIZED. SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED AGAIN?
Your baptism should have signified you becoming a follower of Jesus, beginning a changed life, and uniting with a new family. If your baptism did not reflect this changed life, then you should be baptized again.
CAN MY CHILD BE BAPTIZED?
We will baptize anyone who understands what baptism symbolizes and who wants to make that personal public declaration. We encourage parents to partner with our True Life Kids and Students Ministries to guide their children through these decisions of faith.
CAN MY INFANT BE BAPTIZED?
Throughout the New Testament, the Bible teaches that baptism is a public expression of worship symbolizing the new life we have when we follow Jesus. In the Bible, we see that Jesus’ parents dedicated Him to the Lord (Luke 2:22-40), and He was later baptized as an adult (Matthew 3:16-17).
At True Life we provide opportunities for child dedication and believer’s baptism. Baptisms are held on every 5th Sunday. To schedule a Baby Dedication, contact the church at 740-751-5565.