About Water Baptism
What Is Baptism?
Baptism is the public celebration announcing your personal relationship with Jesus
Christ.
What it isn’t:
Baptism does not save you: this means that it doesn’t purchase your way to heaven, assure you
a personal relationship with Jesus, and does not wash away your sins.
Baptism is in obedience to Christ and does not automatically make you a member of LifeChurch
or any denomination.
Why Do It?
Because Jesus did it. (Matthew 3:13-17): “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be
baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you
come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.
“Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At
that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting
on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well
pleased’.”
Because Jesus commands you to do it in obedience. (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’.”
How to Do It?
Followers of Jesus in the Bible were plunged into water. (Acts 8:35-38): “Then Philip began
with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled
along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t
I be baptized?’ Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The eunuch answered,
‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ And he gave orders to stop the chariot.
Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.”
The original word in the Bible for baptized is “baptizo”, and its specific meaning is “to immerse
in a body of water”.
Being plunged into water is symbolic in two ways:
It symbolizes Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
It symbolizes your death to sin and your new life in Jesus. (Romans 6:3-4): “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.”
When To Do It?
Followers of Jesus in the Bible were baptized right after making a focused commitment of
their lives to Jesus. (Acts 16:29-33): “The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling
before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’
They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.’ Then
they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all the others in his house. At that hour of the night
the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.”
Want to get water baptized?
Fill out this form below and we will get in touch with you about the next available time to be baptized.