If you call yourself a Christian, but have not yet been baptised then this STEP is for you.
If you call yourself a Christian, but have not yet been baptised then this STEP is for you.
When you enter into a relationship with someone else, there comes a moment when you want to make it official. Whether that is taking your significant other to meet your family for tea, changing your status on social media or announcing your engagement in a newspaper. The relationship becomes public.
BAPTISM is the Christian version of this.
This ancient symbol of being lowered under water and being brought back up again, is a way of making a public declaration to all your family and friends. A statement that you have decided to become a follower of Jesus and you want to live your life differently from now on.
Baptism is a symbol of all that Jesus has done for us and in us, and a declaration of our commitment to follow Him. There are at number of pictures that the Bible uses to talk about baptism.
It's like a GRAVE
Romans 6:1-11
Colossians 2:11-14
Sorry to be morbid, but the Bible says that placing our faith in Jesus means dying to our old way of life; changing and living a new life with Him at the centre. Going under the water signifies the death of our old life, like going down into a grave, and coming up out of the water signifies the start of a new life. It reminds us of what’s happened and is a sign to others of our decision.
It's like a BIRTH
John 3
2 Corinthians 5
The Bible also says that to know Jesus and be part of His kingdom we need to be born again: to undergo a radical change. Similar to dying to our old way of life we need to be completely changed by Jesus, such that we are ‘born again’. In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul says we are ‘new creations’. As we come up from the water in baptism it symbolises this ‘new birth’; starting a new life, as a new creation.
It's like a Bath
Acts 22:16
The Bible talks of sin as something that makes us unclean and separates us from God. Forgiveness is spoken of as making us clean. We often sing about how Jesus’ death on the cross washes us clean from sin, restoring our relationship with God. Baptism is the symbol of our sins being washed away, a bit like a bath.
It means joining a family
Galatians 3:26-29
The Bible says that through Jesus a new family was created; a family made up of all sorts of different people and cultures. It is faith in Jesus that is the distinguishing feature of this family. When we choose to follow Jesus we become 'brothers' and ‘sisters' with everyone else who has chosen to follow Him. Baptism signifies our transition into our new worldwide family.
Why should I get baptised?
We encourage all followers of Jesus to be baptised for a few reasons.
01
Firstly it's a step of obedience, Jesus told his disciples to tell people about him and baptise them (Matthew 28 v 19). Even Jesus himself got baptised (Matthew 3 v 13 -17).
02
Secondly, throughout church history baptism has been seen as a ‘means of grace’ God uses it as a way to pour out His blessing. Often people say that baptism was a hugely encouraging experience. It gives us a chance to declare publically all that Jesus has done, reminds us of how He has changed and is changing our lives. It allows others to celebrate with us, reminding them of the goodness of God, and it testifies to those who don't know Jesus about who He is.
03
Finally, through baptism we become wonderfully unified with all other believers at all times and in all places, as everyone who comes to know Jesus is encouraged to be baptised.
When should I get baptised?
If you're committed to following Jesus - if you've made the decision that you want to follow him for the rest of your life then baptism is an important step of obedience to take. You don't need to wait, go for it. It’s not about having everything sorted, the Bible tells us that many people believed and were baptised immediately! (Acts 2 and 8). Baptism is just saying 'l believe in Jesus and I want to follow Him’.
What does getting baptised look like?
When we baptise people at Freedom Church we tend to do so by entirely immersing them in water and then immediately bringing them up. We do this in a large pool that we put up just in front of the stage. The word ‘baptism’ comes from the Greek word ‘baptismo’ which means to ‘be drenched’ to drown or ‘to immerse’ something in water.
Do I have to be baptised?
Baptism itself doesn't save us; there is nothing magic about the water. Instead it's a symbol of something that has already happened. We are saved by faith in Jesus and all that He has done for us in His life, death and resurrection, nothing else is needed. But Jesus said that we should ‘believe and be baptised’ and if it's important to Him, then it's important to those of us that follow him.
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