Why Should I Be Baptized?

1. Jesus was baptized
“One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.” Mark 1:9

2. Jesus asks you to be baptized
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

3. Because you believe that Jesus died for your sins and you trust in him for forgiveness and eternal connection with God.
“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household.’ Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household. That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.” Acts 16:31-33

“Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and all his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also became believers and were baptized.” Acts 18:8

What Is The Meaning Of Baptism?

1. Baptism identifies you with Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection.
“For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.” Colossians 2:12

2. Baptism identifies you with your local church.
“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church – about three thousand in all.” Acts 2:41

*NOTE: Baptism does not make you a Christian. You become a Christian when you receive Christ as your personal Savior by placing your trust in Him alone to forgive your sins and seal your eternal destiny in heaven with Him.

Why Does Journey Baptize By Immersion?

1. Jesus was baptized by immersion.
After His baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Him. Matthew 3:16

2. Baptism in the Bible was by immersion.
“. . . and they went down into the water . . . When they came up out of the water . . .” Acts 8:38-39

3. The word “baptize” (“baptizo” in the Greek) literally means “to dip under water”.

4. Baptism by immersion best symbolizes and identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
“Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with Him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:3-4

Who Should Be Baptized?

Every person who has received Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior should be baptized. A “believer” is someone who has realized that their sin separates them from God. They have given up all personal efforts to reach God through good deeds 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. As a result, they have decided to solely trust Christ and His sacrificial death as the perfect payment for their sins. Therefore, they receive God’s free gift of salvation through Christ. If you have come to that point in your spiritual journey, then you are ready to be baptized.

“But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself believed and was baptized.” Acts 8:12-13

What About The Baptism Of Young Children?

The Bible shows no example of a baptism when the person did not request it. All instances of baptism followed an individual’s personal decision to receive Christ as Savior. At Journey, we wait until the child is old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them. When a child makes a decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation and forgiveness of their sins, we will gladly baptize them.

Some churches practice a “baptism of confirmation” for children. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed. In these churches, the parent pledges their commitment to raise their child according to Christian values and beliefs. While this is a very meaningful event, it is not baptism as taught in the Bible.

Journey offers a similar opportunity for parents through our special baby dedication services. In this dedication, the parents pray for God’s blessings on their child as they commit to rearing them in a way that is pleasing to God.

Since one of the purposes of baptism is to publicly give witness to your personal commitment to Christ, it is strongly recommended that every Christian person, who understands Biblical baptism, be baptized after they have personally chosen to follow Jesus, even though they might have been “confirmed” or “dedicated” as children.