Baptism is the first thing God asks us to do once we’ve believed in Jesus Christ. Baptism is a rich tradition established by Jesus and his earliest followers as a way to publicly acknowledge belief in Him, and to proclaim our desire to follow Him to the best of our ability.
Our baptism coordinator, Pam Dvorak, will be glad to answer any questions you have about baptism, or to register you for the next baptism service. Please contact Pam at pdvorak@sunridgechurch.org.
Understanding Baptism
Baptism FAQs
What is baptism?
Baptism is a way of proclaiming that you have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It symbolizes that our old life died and is buried, illustrated by going under the water. Because of our redemption through Jesus, we rise to a new life, illustrated by being lifted out of the water.
“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 6:4)
Who should be baptized?
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are ready to be baptized. People in the New Testament who believed were baptized after receiving the good news, most often immediately after confessing Christ. Baptism subsequent to belief is the clear New Testament pattern.
“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”(Acts 2:41)
“But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12)
Is baptism necessary in order to be saved?
No. The only thing necessary to be saved is to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
If baptism isn’t necessary to be a Christian, why should I do it?
Many steps we take as Christians are not vital to being saved, but are important nonetheless. As previously stated, we publicly proclaim our allegiance to Christ through baptism. Baptism is a way of celebrating the new life Christ has given us. Additionally, consider the following:
- Jesus was baptized. (Matthew 3:13-17)
- Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize. (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Being baptized after belief is the overwhelming pattern we see in the New Testament. (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 8:35-38; 10:42-48; 16:14-15; 18:7-8; 19:1-5)
What if I was baptized as an infant?
There is no instance of infant baptism definitively recorded anywhere in the Bible. If you were baptized as an infant but have now chosen to follow Christ, you should be baptized.
What if my previous baptism was by sprinkling and not immersion?
Although the baptisms in the Bible appear to be by immersion, and even the word, baptizo means to dip or immerse, there is no clear biblical mandate for any particular method. Your method of baptism is a matter of preference.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” (Matthew 3:16)
What if “I don’t have my act together” yet?
Baptism simply proclaims the beginning of a relationship with God; it’s not an announcement of how we’ve now arrived! The truth is, we never really have our act together, which is why salvation is the free gift of God and provided through grace.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith ‒ and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
In the New Testament, people who received the gospel were baptized. Jesus was baptized and commanded that we go into the world and baptize those who believe. Our feelings or traditions are not always a reliable guide to following Jesus, but the Bible is. Following the Apostle Paul’s conversion, the believer Ananias guided him in his newfound faith saying: “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized!” (Acts 22:16)
Can I be baptized more privately?
Of course! For instance, we baptize in backyard pools with family and close friends present.
We know it can be intimidating to be up front during a church service. But consider what an inspiration your baptism is to the church. If you’ve ever been at one of our baptism services then you know how we love seeing people baptized. People applaud, smile, and sometimes shout “Amen.” Everyone is with you and for you at your baptism!