Baptism Registration August 17, 2025
We are so glad you are considering baptism. Please fill out the attached form and return it to the Welcome Center.
Consider inviting family and friends for this special day!
When Should I be Baptized?
As soon as you have believed. “Those who believed were baptized that day!” (Acts 2:41)
“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.” (Acts 8:35-38)
The Bible teaches that baptism should follow your decision to become a Believer. There is no reason to delay. If you wait until you are “good” enough, you will never feel ready for baptism.
How do I know if I am ready to be baptized?
When you have made a decision to follow Christ. This describes someone that has realized that their sin has separated them from God. They have given up all efforts to reach God through good works or religious activity. They have concluded that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for their sins is the only thing that can bridge the gap between them and God. In him alone do they trust to secure their salvation and eternal destiny in heaven. They are committed to following His teachings and imitating his behavior. If you have come to that point in your spiritual journey, then you are ready to be baptized (Acts 2:41; 8:12-13).
Baptism does not make you a Christian nor secure your eternal destiny
Only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring - it’s the outward sign of the commitment you have made in your heart. (see Ephesians 2:8-9)
When Do I Meet?
On the scheduled Sunday of baptism, please arrive 45 minutes before service for the baptismal class and instructions about the service. We’ll call you with the location of this class.
What Do I Wear?
You should wear a dark shirt, and either shorts or jeans. Remember to bring a change of clothes to wear home and a towel. The bathrooms are available for changing.
What is the Meaning of Baptism
A. It is symbolic of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
“Christ died for our sins...He was buried and He rose again.” I Corinthians 15:3-4
For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.” Colossians 2:12
B. It illustrates the “burial” of our old life of sin and the “resurrection” of our new life in Christ
“When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!” II Corinthians 5:17
“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
Why Should I be Baptized
A. To follow the example of Christ.
“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” Mark 1:9
B. Christ commanded it.
“Jesus, said, Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey in everything that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
C. The disciples and all believers were baptized as a public demonstration of their faith
although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. John 4:2
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him (jailer) and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family. Acts 16:32-34
What About Infants and Children?
A child can publicize their faith through baptism just as an adult can so long as they have made a conscious decision to follow Christ. All biblical instances of baptism followed a personal decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:47-48).
In the Bible we find parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them, prayed for them, and told us to welcome them, but he did not baptize them nor tell anyone else to baptize them. Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. This custom began about three hundred years after the Bible was completed. If you have been baptized as an infant or confirmed as a child, we encourage you to be baptized again after making a personal decision to follow Christ. (Christ’s sacrifice on the cross alone secures our eternal salvation.)
Why be Baptized by Immersion?
A. Because Jesus and every baptism in the Bible was baptized this way.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16 (for example) “…then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…” Acts 8:38-39
B. The word “baptize” means “to dip under water.”
C. It is best symbolized as a burial and resurrection. (Romans 6:1-11)