| Water baptism
is one of the most well known practices of the Christian faith,
yet it also is one of the most poorly understood. The following
brief description is provided to explain our view of water
baptism at Lake City Community Church. |
|
| Baptism is an outward expression
of an inner spiritual reality. Water baptism pictures the
spiritual "baptism" which occured at the moment of salvation.
At salvation every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit;
joining him or her to the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13) |
| Water baptism is a public act
which demonstrates submission to the authority of Jesus Christ.
Is in an act of obedience which commits one to a life of
obedience. (Rom. 6:1-7) |
| Water baptism is a command to be
obeyed. (Matthew 28:18-20) |
| Water baptism symbolized the
death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and also of the
Christian who identifies with Him. (Rom. 6:1-3) |
| Water baptism symbolized the
cleansing from sins, a washing away of the old life. (Acts
22:16) |
| Water baptism is an act which initiates the
Christian into fellowship. (Acts 2:36-41; 1 Cor. 12:13) |
|
| It is not a required step for
being saved. |
| It is not a guarantee of heaven or
God’s forgiveness. If there is not faith and repentance, water
baptism means nothing. |
| It is not proof to a congregation
of the genuineness of a convert’s faith. It is only proof of
God who knows the heart and motivates the person. |
|
| Jesus demonstrated the importance of baptism by His own example.
(Matt. 3:13-17) |
| We are commanded to be baptized by
Jesus Christ. (Matt 28:18-20) |
| The apostles understood water
baptism to be the public sign of entry into the Christian
community. (Acts 2:41) |
| Baptism demonstrates openly one’s
obedience and willingness to come under the Lordship of Christ.
(1 John 2:4) |
| Obedience from love is our main
motive. |
|
| In the Bible, baptism was by
immersion. (Matt. 3:16; Acts 8:26-39; John 3:23) |
| Jesus was immersed. (Matt.
3:13-17) |
| Total immersion best symbolizes
the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
| The biblical word for "baptism"
means "to dip." |
| Other forms of baptism did not
come into practice until much later. It was not until 1311 that
pouring and sprinkling were accepted as forms of baptism. |
|
| Should infants receive water
baptism? No. Since water baptism pictures a spiritual
relationship which begins at salvation, no person should be
baptized until they are able to understand and respond to the
gospel. Baptism in the Bible is always “believers baptism.” |
| Should I be re-baptized if I was
baptized as a child? The key question is whether you were
baptized as a believer. If you were baptized before making a
profession of faith in Christ, we suggest that you be baptized
as a believer. The precedent for this is Acts 19:1-6. |
| How soon should a person be
baptized once they have received Christ? The pattern in the
book of Acts was “immediately.” (Acts 8:35-38) |