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Baptism FAQs Weekly News - This week's schedule Sermon Archive (mp3 files) Joy of the Journey Projects Baptism FAQs All About Deacons Purity Bibliography |
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Q – Is baptism necessary for salvation? A – No. Faith alone in Jesus Christ is all we must do to be saved: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Consider the repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus. The Lord told him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The thief was never baptized, nor was he able to do any good works. And yet, on the basis of faith alone, he was promised a home in heaven. Some denominations argue that baptism is necessary for salvation due to a misinterpretation of one or two verses of Scripture. See one of the pastors if you have a question about this. Overall, the Scriptures are very clear and consistent: water baptism is not necessary for salvation. Q – Why do we baptize? A – We baptize in obedience to the Lord’s command in Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." According to this verse, baptizing is a part of fulfilling the Lord’s command to “make disciples.” Q – Who should be baptized? A – Baptism is for a professing believer in Christ who wishes to be identified as a disciple or follower of Christ (see Matthew 28:18-20). Some denominations argue in favor of infant baptism; however, the New Testament teaches no such practice. Infants and young children are not able to profess faith or to independently indicate a desire to be Christ’s disciple. They gain no advantage from being baptized prior to conversion. Q – What is the difference between Christian baptism and the baptism of John? A – Both baptisms are mentioned in Acts 19:1-5: “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John's baptism,’ they replied. Paul said, ‘John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.” The baptism of John indicated that someone was prepared in their heart to believe on the Messiah when he came and whoever he might be. In Christian baptism, the person being baptized is declaring that he or she believes specifically in Jesus as the Messiah and that they wish to be known as his disciple. Q – What is the difference between water baptism and spirit baptism? A – Spirit baptism is a ministry of the Holy Spirit that involves spiritually placing a believer into the Body of Christ when they trust in Christ as their Savior (see 1 Corinthians 12:13). Water baptism involves a physical immersion into water as a public testimony of faith in Christ and in obedience to his command as previously stated. Q – What is the significance of baptism? A – In addition to indicating publicly that a believer is a disciple of Jesus Christ, water baptism also symbolizes the spiritual reality of a believer’s unity and identity with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection. “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4). Q – Why do we immerse? A – Because the word “baptism” literally means “to dip, plunge under, or immerse.” Immersion is also the only method that fulfills the symbolism of Romans 6:3-4. |
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