Following Jesus through Water Baptism

What does "baptizing" mean?  Baptism is a ritual or practice involving water to identify someone as a disciple of Jesus.  Or, another way of saying the same thing, baptizing is identifying someone as a disciple of Jesus through a ritual or practice using water.

Meaning of Baptism

So what is the meaning of baptism?  Baptism is rich in meaning.  Listen to these scriptures that shed light on baptism.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NIV):  "³For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

Colossians 2:12-14 (NLT):  "¹²For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. ¹³You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. ¹⁴He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross."

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV):  "¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Romans 6:4 (MSG):  "⁴When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus."

Baptism suggests cleansing.  When we are a disciple, we understand that we are cleansed by Jesus.  We understand that Jesus died in our place on the cross, paying for our sins, fully forgiving us for all our wrongs.  We are cleansed from guilt, and we are becoming a cleaner, healthier, more whole person.

Baptism suggests an ending and a new beginning.  Immersion especially dramatizes this: a person is buried under the water - signifying the end of his or her old before Christ life - and then rises up out of the water - signifying the beginning of his or her new life as a disciple.

Baptism indicates a new identity.  By way of analogy, when people get married, they accept and wear a ring, which is a symbol of their vow and commitment.  The ring isn't what makes them married, and it isn't what makes them each other's spouse. The commitment is what makes them married, and the relationship is what makes them love each other. But they wear the ring as a symbol of their new identity in commitment and relationship to each other.

Baptism suggests that a person has similarly entered into a relationship and commitment to Jesus Christ.  It says, "Our relationship has progressed from a casual acquaintance or friendship to a deep, lifelong commitment."

Like a Wedding Ring

Not only that, but through baptism, like wearing a wedding ring, a person is going public.  They are saying, "I'm not ashamed of this commitment.  I want to be publicly identified as a person of commitment."

In a marriage, the ring is often associated with taking on a new name, which suggests a new identity.  A woman says, "I am now the wife of George," or a man says, "I am now the husband of Linda."  Before those words were not true; now they are.  Now they describe a new identity.

A New Identity

Baptism means that we now identify with God as our Father, with Jesus as God's Son, with the Holy Spirit as God not only "up there" but also God "in here" - God alive and present in our own heart, our own life.  It means we aren't ashamed of this new identity.  It means we are going public with our commitment.

Baptism Makes a Statement

If we are committed to learn from Jesus how to live life to the full, and if we are committed to help others learn to live that way too ... if we have accepted God's invitation into a lifelong relationship ... if we have accepted this new identity as a disciple ... then we should be baptized to demonstrate that commitment.  By being baptized, we are saying, "I am a disciple, and I am committed to the mission of helping others become disciples too."

Joining the Community of God

More than just a "vertical experience" (you and God), baptism is a "horizontal experience" as well (you and God's people, the church).  By being baptized, one is saying to the church, "I am one of you now.  We are family who are committed to Christ, His church, and His cause."  Baptism becomes a celebration of the entire family of God.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should be baptized?  Every person who follows Jesus.

When should we be baptized?  When one begins to follow Jesus. 

Acts 2:41 (NIV):  "⁴¹Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

Acts 8:12-13 (NIV):  "¹²But 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. ¹³Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw."

Acts 8:35-38 (NIV):  "³⁵Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?' ³⁸And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him."

What if I was baptized as an infant?  There are different perspectives and beliefs under the umbrella of Christianity regarding baptism.  Some denominations and traditions baptize infants while others do not.  We certainly want to show respect to the person who was baptized as an infant and also to the parents and their viewpoints, as well as be grateful to God for any spiritual influence they have had in your life.  However, our understanding of what the Bible teaches is that baptism follows repentance of sin and faith in Jesus - in obedience after one starts to follow Jesus Christ.

Should I get "re-baptized" if I was baptized at another church?  As long as you were a follower of Jesus when you were baptized, and the other church was a Christ-centered church, then you do not need to be re-baptized.  If, however, your baptism was merely a church ritual done prior to your decision to follow Jesus or if the church was outside of the mainstream of Christianity, then we would encourage you to be baptized.

Can my children be baptized?  Absolutely, as long as they thoroughly understand what they are doing.  New Hope requires that you wait until your children are old enough to make an intelligent decision to follow Jesus and a profession of faith that is their own.  We certainly believe that a young child can be a Christ-follower, but the older a child is, the more they will understand and the more meaningful baptism will be for them.  If your child is asking questions about baptism, you may make an appointment for them with Raylene Culbertson, Pastor of Children's Ministries, or Scott Pedersen, Lead Pastor.

Can a family be baptized together?  Absolutely!  If each family member understands the full meaning of baptism and each one has personally decided to follow Jesus, to become His disciple.  However, it is important to remember that baptism is a personal statement of faith, not a family tradition.  It is usually not wise to delay one's baptism while waiting on other family members to become a Christian because it can put unnecessary pressure on them and only delays one's obedience.

What do I bring with me to the worship gathering when baptized?  A towel, dark clothes to be baptized in, and a change of clothes for afterwards. 

Mode of Baptism

We practice immersion, where one will be fully immersed into the water, signifying Jesus' death and resurrection, as well as our own, like we have already talked about.

Fears, Concerns, or Questions

I would strongly encourage you to sign up for baptism if you have not already experienced and practiced believer's baptism.  Don't miss this opportunity just because you have some fears, concerns, or questions.  Signing up just let's us know you are interested and we can attempt to answer any questions, deal with any concerns, and eliminate any fears before the baptism service.

Summary: Why should I be baptized?

To follow the example set by Jesus.

Mark 1:9 (NLT):  "⁹One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River."

Because Jesus says we should.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT):  "¹⁹Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

It demonstrates that we really are a follower.

Acts 18:8 (NLT):  "⁸Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and all his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also became believers and were baptized."

1 John 2:3 (NLT):  "³And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments."

Sign Up Now!