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First Baptist Church

WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

Christ commanded me to do so.

Jesus has commanded every believer to be baptized. It is not an option or suggestion. He clearly commanded that all those who accept Him as their Savior are to be baptized.

Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19,20)

Christ set the example for me to follow.

Jesus Himself was baptized. Because He was our example of the Christian life we should follow in His footsteps.

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him... (Matthew 3:13-17)

It shows my loving obedience as a Christian.

Out of obedience Jesus submitted Himself to be baptized by John. Surely, if the Son of God said baptism was a sign of obedience and love to the Father, we should willingly follow His example.

Then they that gladly received His word were baptized. (Acts 2:31)

It is a witness of the love and mercy of Christ.

When a believer is baptized it should be done publicly. Baptism is a wonderful witness of God's love for people and His desire to see them come back into a personal relationship with Him. When a believer is baptized, those watching often sense the work of God's Spirit in their own heart as the great truths of the Gospel are portrayed.

It is a point of reference in the believer's life.

Once a believer has been baptized he will always be able to look back and remember the time when he publicly proclaimed Jesus Christ as his Savior. It is a confirmation, an act of affirming by action the decision that was made in the heart. It serves as an anchor for faith during times of doubt and discouragement (John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-17; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 5:11-13)

Conclusion:

Because of our love and devotion to Jesus Christ we should follow His command to be baptized as He was.

WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

After you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Baptism is always limited to believers in the Bible. Only those who had made a decision in their heart to accept Jesus were baptized. Not once in the New Testament was an unbeliever baptized, nor was anyone who had not accepted Jesus ever commanded to be baptized.

When they believed...they were baptized. (Acts 8:12)

And the Eunuch said, "See here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" And Philip said, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." (Acts 8:36-37)

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved"...and immediately he was baptized. (Acts 16:30-34)

Conclusion:

Baptism follows salvation, immediately if possible. The believer should anxiously look forward to this visual expression of his faith in Jesus Christ.

WHAT DOES BAPTISM MEAN?

Baptism is a symbol. To "symbolize" means to reproduce a reality in terms of sight. The reality of salvation is symbolized in baptism, the initial ordinance of a New Testament church.

A good illustration of the symbolic significance of baptism is the wedding ring. In our country a man and a woman make a commitment of marriage and vow to love one another "till death do us part". This mutual commitment ties them together in the bond of holy matrimony. As a symbol of their love and fidelity to one another, they exchange rings which are worn to publicly display their commitment and faith to one another. This outward symbol conveys visually the reality of the inner commitment and decision that has already been made. The rings are not exchanged until after the vows have been made.

If an unmarried man puts a ring on his finger, does that mean he is now married? Certainly not! If a married woman takes off her ring to do housework does that mean she is not married? No! You see, the ring only symbolizes the truth. It does not cause it. Marriage is a commitment of faith by a man and a woman to one another. The ring visually portrays that commitment.

In a similar manner, so baptism is the "ring" of our commitment of faith in Jesus Christ. Just being baptized does not cause us to be saved. But, baptism visually symbolizes the decision that the believer has already made in his heart.

In a beautiful way baptism portrays our marriage to Christ. The Scripture speaks of Christ as the groom and the Church (believers) as His bride (Matthew 9:15; Revelation 19:7-9).

Baptism presents a trinity of truths:

(1) Historical Christianity

The death, burial and resurrection of our Lord are dramatically represented in the burial and resurrection from the water. The main gospel truth is that:

Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He rose again... according to the Scripture.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Baptism reproduces in terms of sight, Calvary's cross and the resurrection on the third day after the burial. Standing for the cross, representing the empty tomb, baptism is the sublime memorial of Christ's burial and resurrection. Though Christ was sinless and had no sin of His own to bury, He had the sins of the world to bear. His baptism visualized His assuming the responsibility of human guilt, His going down in figure to death because of that guilt, and then His coming forth in the figure of resurrection. Christ's death, Christ's burial, Christ's resurrection from the dead--these three acts of tragedy and triumph are symbolized in baptism.

(2) Experiential Christianity

The experience of the conversion of the believer, once dead in sin and now alive through faith in Jesus Christ, rising "to walk in newness of life" is visually portrayed in baptism.

Baptism, an ordinance given by Christ, does not save sinners. But it symbolizes a believer and what has taken place in his life. Baptism cannot work a regeneration, but it pictures the change which has already taken place, testifying symbolically that the believing subject is in a saved state. The old man is dead and buried. And the burial is not a burial to "take life", but a burial to "show death".

Baptism, an ordinance simple in its method and marvelous in its pictorial testimony, symbolizes the cleansing from sin and the soul regeneration by the blood of Christ. The believer, dead to the old life of sin and rejection of Christ, is buried with Christ by baptism and raised to walk in a new life (Romans 6:4).
The believer's baptismal burial symbolizes the believer's faith that Christ died for his sins and that He was raised from the tomb by the power and the glory of God. In baptism the believer is saying, in sublime symbol, "I am dead to the old life and am raised to live in a new life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:3-11; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12).

(3) Prophetic Christianity

The Christian's hope of a resurrection from the dead after the burial of the body in the grave is symbolized in baptism. Symbolized in believer's baptism is the day when "the dead shall be raised incorruptible" (1 Corinthians 15:52). The truth that:

...if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:5)

It is a visual testimony to, or a picture of, the faith that Jesus will call our bodies from the grave in resurrection glory and triumph!

Visual proclamation and portrayal of unsurpassing beauty is found in believer's baptism of the Christian's hope--the certainty that the bodies of all Christians shall come forth from their graves and be fashioned unto Christ's own glorious body to live with Christ forever more.

Conclusion:

It has been said that baptism is salvation symbolized by "immersion", meaning death--by "submersion", meaning burial-- and by "emersion", meaning resurrection. And all in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit--"inseparable in Being, doing work separate in operation, yet one in glorious and final achievement."

THEN HOW SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

To be Scriptural, baptism must be as Jesus established it and the New Testament church practiced it...by immersion. Mark 1:9 tells us that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist "in" the Jordan River, not on the banks. Verse 10 says, "And straightway coming up out of the water...". The baptism of Jesus was not just "with" water, but was "in" the river. Christ's baptism was an "immersion"--a burial in water. As when later the Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized by Philip (Acts 8:38), they went down into the river.

Baptism is "symbolic", setting forth an idea. Baptism by pouring or sprinkling cannot possibly set forth the same idea which immersion sets forth...that of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let's study these words in their classical Greek usage. The word "baptizo" is related to another Greek word "bapto". The latter meant "to dip, to dip under". It was used of the smith tempering the red-hot steel by putting it under water. It was used also in the sense of "to dip in dye, to color, to steep". It was used of the act of dyeing the hair, and of glazing earthen vessels. It was used as a proverb in the sense of "steeping someone in crimson", that is, giving him a bloody coxcomb, the top of the head. It also meant to "fill by dipping in, to draw". It was used of a ship that was sunk, for example in a naval battle, that is it "sank". "Baptizo", the related word meant "to dip repeatedly". It was used of the act of sinking ships. It meant also to "bathe". It was used in the phrase "soaked in wine", where the word "soaked" is the meaning of "baptizo". It is found in the phrase "overhead and ears in debt", where the words "overhead and ears" are the graphic picture of what the word meant. The word here means therefore, "completely submerged". Our present day English equivalent word would be "sunk". A "baptes" is one who dips or dyes. A "baptisis" is a dipping, a bathing, a washing, a drawing of water. A "baptisma" is that which is dipped. A "baptisterion" is a bathing place, a swimming bath. A "baptistes" is one that dips, a dyer. "Baptos" means "dipped, dyed, bright colored, drawn like water".
Word Studies in the Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament, Kenneth Wuest, p. 70 (adapted)

The method of baptism is important. Remember, baptism symbolizes your salvation experience. If you change the method...you change the meaning. We are seeking in the Spirit of Jesus Christ to persuade all men to receive Him as Savior and to be obedient to Him as Lord. We must be consistent in our testimony, both verbal and visual. We are not to say one thing and yet portray another.

When a believer is baptized he enters the water. His standing in the water pictures Christ on the cross, His crucifixion. He is then submerged into the water. This is the picture of the burial of Christ. Next, the believer rises up again to a standing position. This portrays the resurrection from the grave of Christ. The meaning symbolized by the method...death, burial and resurrection.

Conclusion:

Only baptism by immersion pictures the great Biblical truth of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

SHOULD A CHILD BE BAPTIZED?

Among the fundamental ideas for which we are distinctive and stand for, are: The worth of man, the necessity of the new birth, and the preservation of truth in Christian symbols. In reference to the baptism of children the principle is as follows. The salvation experience must precede the portrayal of that experience which is given in baptism. Baptism should follow soon after the salvation experience and should set forth the truths of salvation in its method. If an individual is not baptized according to the Biblical pattern we do not accept it as truly representing the salvation experience. We deny the power of symbols to produce spiritual experience (i.e., salvation through baptism). Baptism is limited to believers. Children who have not made a personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ have not had the experience that baptism portrays. Therefore, we would not baptize them. This is true for anyone who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. No where in Scripture is infant baptism mentioned. It was practiced first by Iranaeus around 80 AD to symbolize "future" repentance.

When can a child be saved?

The heart of a child is very sensitive and open to the work of the Holy Spirit. We sometimes hear the term "age of accountability" used to speak of a particular time when a child can make a valid decision to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. However, Scripture does not give a specific time or age. Rather, the emphasis is placed upon the ability to understand spiritual truths. Whether child or adult, a person is ready to make a decision to receive Jesus Christ when they can comprehend the basics of the Gospel message...the reality of personal sin and its consequences, the saving work of Jesus Christ and the absolute necessity of repentance for salvation.

Baby/Child Dedication Services

Some denominations practice "christening". This has a variety of meanings among different denominations and is sometimes interpreted as providing salvation for a child or being the equivalent of baptism. We believe that salvation comes only as the result of a personal decision to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. No other means or work, by parents or Church, can bring about or assure salvation. During the year we have Dedication Services for babies and children. This is a beautiful experience when parents bring their children before the Lord in a Worship Service and vow to raise them in a Christian home...where God is honored in the marriage relationship, Bible study & prayer, stewardship, regular Church attendance and other means of worship...in hope that one day the child will receive Christ. In a very real sense it is a dedication of the parents and the child.

WHAT IF I WAS BAPTIZED IN
ANOTHER CHURCH?

We accept the baptism of other churches of similar faith and practice. If, when you were baptized, it was done with the theological understanding and the method described here, then we will accept it. However, if it was different at either of these two points we suggest that you need to be baptized according to the Biblical pattern. As Baptists we practice two Ordinances ...Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism, as described here, is deeply rooted in our heritage and our theology...our understanding of salvation by grace and the subsequent obedience of the believer. While baptism does not cause salvation, it is significant because it is evidence in the believer's life of submission to the Lordship of Christ.

PROCEDURE FOR BAPTISM

Requesting Baptism

At the end of our Worship Services we provide an opportunity for you to respond to God as He has been working in your heart and life. This is our "Invitation Time". During the Invitation you may come forward and speak to our Pastor concerning your desire for baptism.

Procedure for Baptism

Please meet with the Pastor in his office before the Worship Service so that he can demonstrate the actual method of baptism and pray with you (Morning Services-meet at 9:30 a.m.; Evening Services-meet at 5:30 p.m.)
Bring pants, shirt & undergarments to be baptized in, as well as hairdryer, etc. A towel is provided. There is a separate dressing area for men and women. A member of the Baptismal Committee will be present to assist you. You may return to the Worship Service after baptism.

Inviting Relatives and Friends

You are encouraged to invite relatives and friends to this special time in your life. It will be a wonderful witness to them of your faith and commitment.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

The Value of Church Membership

Church membership is very important. It provides you a place for support, fellowship & encouragement. It offers opportunities for ministry & involvement. It identifies you with a local body of Christians that have the same beliefs as you do. A general statement of our beliefs can be found in the Baptist Faith & Message (1963). "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3) "...one Lord, one faith, one baptism..." (Eph. 4:5).

The Procedure for Joining the Church

During the "Invitation Time" at the end of a Worship Service you may come forward and speak to the Pastor concerning your desire for membership. We accept members by profession of faith and salvation, followed by baptism; by a Letter of Recommendation from another Baptist Church; or by Statement of Faith when you are coming from another denominational background. If you have never been baptized, in the method explained in this material, it will be necessary for you to be baptized before membership can be granted.

Be an Active member

Membership is a serious decision. It means that you desire to be a vital part of the life and ministry of this Church. I would recommend that you begin attending a Small Group Bible study meeting. We have groups for all ages on Sundays and groups that meet on weekdays. There you will meet other members and be able to identify opportunities of ministry and service that are available. I would also encourage you to begin to tithe. This means giving the Lord 10% of your income in support of the ministry here at our Church and that of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Baptism & Church Membership