Baptism

Why be baptised?

Once you have taken Jesus Christ into your life and fully

embraced his teachings, your next step is to be baptised.

Jesus set an example
The command of Jesus is reinforced by his own example in being baptised himself. Despite John the Baptist protesting, Jesus insisted on being baptised. Jesus said, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness". Jesus did not agree to be baptised with a view to washing his sins away. Rather in Baptism he took his first step to the cross by identifying himself with us in our sinfulness.

Declaring a union with Christ
Baptism is a dramatic way of declaring your solidarity with Jesus. The only thing needed is a large quantity of water! Even today in warmer climates people are baptised in rivers, lakes and ponds. Although, in Britain it is more common for a baptistry to be used.

Spectators at a baptism are asked to imagine that the water is a watery grave. So when you are submerged under water, you will identify with Jesus who died and was buried, for a split second you will disappear, like Jesus, off the face of the earth.

In most Baptist churches as you are baptised you will be taken backwards into the horizontal position of a coffin. Then, like Christ, you will symbolically rise from the dead.

Paul (Romans 6:4), describes the newly baptised as rising to live a new life. As you go under the water, you will be declaring your resolve to die to your old way of living, and as you rise from the water your resolve to follow Christ's example.

Questions people ask

What if I were baptised as a child?

What if I have been confirmed?

How old do I have to be to be baptised?

What about the laying on of hands?