Water Baptism

Baptism is an important step of obedience that shows others we have personally trusted Jesus for our salvation.
Jesus was baptised when He was on the earth, and we do this to follow His example.
When Christians are baptised, they are submerged under water to identify with the death and burial of Jesus and
raised out of the water to identify with His resurrection.
We believe that water baptism is a public declaration of three important things:

  1. You are a follower of Jesus Christ

  2. You are beginning a changed life in Christ

  3. You are part of a new family.

 
 

F.A.Q

1. What is baptism?

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. It’s a public declaration of how Jesus changed your life. Being baptised shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows them to celebrate this decision with you (Acts 16:31-34).

Baptism doesn’t save a person; it’s a symbol and celebration of salvation (1 Peter 3:21). The power that brought Jesus back to life is the same power Jesus uses to change our lives – and that’s worth getting excited about!

2. Why should I be baptised?

Why does baptism matter? Jesus instructs us to be baptised and set the example by being baptised (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 1:9).

Obedience to Jesus shows we believe and follow Him. (1 John 2:3). Because Jesus went public about His love for us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptised shows that we turn away from a life of sin toward Jesus, the only one who can change us (Acts 2:38-41).

3. When’s the best time to be baptised?

For everyone who decides to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step. Anyone who commits his or her life to following Jesus is ready to be baptised (Acts 8:12).

4. Do you baptise children?

As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but they are the ones to decide if they will commit their lives to Him (Romans 10:9).

Any instance of baptism follows a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him (Acts 10:47-48). At Inspire, we wait until children are old enough to express their own decision to follow Jesus and understand the meaning of baptism.

If your child has already asked Jesus into his life, explain what baptism is and what it means. Facilitate the conversation, but don’t dominate it.

5. What’s the difference between immersing, sprinkling and other ways of baptising?

Baptisms in the Bible were by immersion. The original word for baptism most often referred to being immersed or submerged in water. Jesus was baptised by being immersed in the water and rising out of it (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10).

Submersion in the water symbolises the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Being submersed underwater represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus raised us and gave us a fresh start in life (Romans 6:3-5).

6. Do I need to be baptised again?

If you haven’t been baptised by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, we want to help you take your next step of being baptised. Once you’ve taken that step, there’s no need to be baptised again.

God never asks us to take a next step that isn’t good for us. He always gives us more than we deserve or can imagine, including the joy we receive from listening to Him and doing what He says.