Baptism Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Often people who are new Christians or are recent newcomers to our church family have questions in regards to baptism. Following are a few answers that will help you understand more about baptism and encourage you in your decision.
1. It illustrates Christ’s burial and resurrection.
• I Cor. 15:3-4 "Christ died for our sins... He was buried... and He rose again."
• Col. 2:12 "For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ."
2. It illustrates my new life as a Christian.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come.”
• Romans 6:4 "By our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... so also we may live a new life!"
Baptism doesn´t make you a believer - it shows that you already believe. Baptism does not "save" you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring - it´s the outward symbol of the commitment you make in your heart.
• Ephesians 2:8,9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION?
1. Because that is the way Jesus was baptized.
Matthew 3:16 “As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.”
2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion.
Eg. “….then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…..”
The original form of baptism was by complete immersion. The word “baptize” comes from the Greek word “baptizio” which means to dip or to sink. Baptism by immersion best develops the picture of burial and resurrection.
WHAT IF I WAS BAPTIZED AS A BABY, CAN I BE BAPTIZED AGAIN?
Often people who are new Christians or are recent newcomers to our church family have questions in regards to baptism. Following are a few answers that will help you understand more about baptism and encourage you in your decision.
WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?
1. Jesus commanded it…..
• Matthew 28:19 “Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
2. Peter repeated the command….
• Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized everyone of you…”
WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?
In the New Testament people were baptized as soon as they believed and put their faith in Jesus Christ. In most cases baptism followed almost immediately ones decision to follow Christ.
• Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted this message were baptized, and about 3000 were added to their number that day.”
• Acts 8:35-38 "Then Philip began with the scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, Look, here is water! Why shouldn´t I be baptized right now? Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. The man answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him."
The Philippian jailor along with his family were baptized immediately following their acceptance of Christ. (Acts 16:32, 33)
There is no reason to delay. As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized. If you wait until you are "perfect", you´ll never feel "good enough"!
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM?
1. Jesus commanded it…..
• Matthew 28:19 “Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
2. Peter repeated the command….
• Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized everyone of you…”
WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?
In the New Testament people were baptized as soon as they believed and put their faith in Jesus Christ. In most cases baptism followed almost immediately ones decision to follow Christ.
• Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted this message were baptized, and about 3000 were added to their number that day.”
• Acts 8:35-38 "Then Philip began with the scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, Look, here is water! Why shouldn´t I be baptized right now? Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. The man answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him."
The Philippian jailor along with his family were baptized immediately following their acceptance of Christ. (Acts 16:32, 33)
There is no reason to delay. As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized. If you wait until you are "perfect", you´ll never feel "good enough"!
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM?
1. It illustrates Christ’s burial and resurrection.
• I Cor. 15:3-4 "Christ died for our sins... He was buried... and He rose again."
• Col. 2:12 "For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ."
2. It illustrates my new life as a Christian.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come.”
• Romans 6:4 "By our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... so also we may live a new life!"
Baptism doesn´t make you a believer - it shows that you already believe. Baptism does not "save" you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring - it´s the outward symbol of the commitment you make in your heart.
• Ephesians 2:8,9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION?
1. Because that is the way Jesus was baptized.
Matthew 3:16 “As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.”
2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion.
Eg. “….then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…..”
The original form of baptism was by complete immersion. The word “baptize” comes from the Greek word “baptizio” which means to dip or to sink. Baptism by immersion best develops the picture of burial and resurrection.
WHAT IF I WAS BAPTIZED AS A BABY, CAN I BE BAPTIZED AGAIN?
Yes!!! Some churches practice a "infant baptism”. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his or her own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed. This is different from the baptism talked about in the Bible which was only for those old enough to believe.
The purpose of baptism is for you to publicly confess your personal commitment to Christ. Here at Comox Pentecostal Church many in our church family have followed the example of Jesus and have been baptized by full immersion, even though many of us were baptized as infants or small children. This is not a sign of disrespect, nor does it minimize the faith of your parents, rather it is an act of obedience to Christ that you can now personally respond to.
If you would like to be baptized at one of our next baptism gatherings please let us know by calling 250-339-4536 or sending an email to office@cpclife.com
We would love to help you take this next step in your walk with Jesus.