Who should be Baptized?
Christians are people who believe the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed on the cross provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, we believe salvation occurs only when a person places his or her faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as the sufficient payment for his or her sin.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are ready to be baptized. Just like a bride and groom show others their love for one another by wearing wedding bands, baptism is your opportunity to show others you have accepted Christ and are now walking with Him
What Baptism is:
A sign of identification-Baptism is a public declaration of what Jesus Christ has done on the inside of a person. It is making a public, visible statement to the world saying, “I’m following Jesus Christ and I want everyone to know.”
“As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” [ And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. -Acts 8:36-39
Symbolic of death and resurrection-I have died to my old life (going under the water) and I am alive to new life in Christ (coming up out of the water). It is symbolic or a picture of what took place at the time of your salvation.
“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,” -Romans 6:4-5
Representative of a cleansing-Baptism represents the washing away of your sin, which took place at the time of your salvation.
“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.” -1 Peter 3:21-22
An important step of obedience to Scripture-In the Bible, as people came to faith in Christ they were baptized. That sequence of events is the same throughout the Scriptures: first people profess faith in Jesus Christ, and then they are baptized. It is called believer’s baptism because it is a baptism which happens after a belief in Jesus Christ.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:19-20
“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” -1 John 2:3
What Baptism is Not:
- A part of or required for salvation. (Consider Luke 23:40-43, the criminal on the cross next to Jesus).
- Something anyone else can do for you.
- About becoming or being a certain age.
- About rededication, recommitting, or marking a new level of understanding.
- About an emotion or feeling.
What about Infants?
In some denominations, infant christening represents a decision made by parents as an act of dedication of their child to Christ. In many ways, that is the same reason we do baby dedications at Parkview Baptist Church. It is a very important time for parents to commit to raise their children in accordance with the teachings of Scripture. It is also important to remember whether you were christened as a baby or your parents participated in a baby dedication, neither of these steps make you a Christian. Only a personal acceptance of Christ’s death on the cross for your sins can do that. While we recognize the right of other churches to practice infant christening, we understand Scripture to teach only professing believers qualify for baptism.