For something as integral to the Christian faith as Baptism, you might be surprised at how many people aren’t entirely sure what baptism means. This primer will help answer your questions about baptism – for further discussion about what is right for you and what is encouraged by your particular church, speak to your clergy member.
But for right now, read on!
What does the Bible say?
Talk of baptism in the Bible focuses on adult men and women who wanted to follow God and proclaim their faith publicly. Baptism is a deliberate choice, one arrived at after much soul-searching and thought about what the Bible teaches and what baptism means. Some churches require that the person being baptized is totally immersed in water, while others choose to “sprinkle” the person with water instead.
The act of going completely under the water and then rising out of it is symbolic. It proclaims that your sins were washed away by your belief in God, and when you rise up out of the water, you are rising up out a life of sin, fresh and new, ready to create a new life for yourself and walk the path that God has chosen for you.
What does it mean?
Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so his followers rise from the water to follow him. The rite of baptism means that you are walking away from the life that came before. Your sins die when they are immersed in the water, and you rise up as a clean slate, ready for God’s will.
Where followers of Jesus baptized?
Yes, they were. Jesus told them that baptism was the clear sign of their faith in what he told them, and in order to go forth in the world and teach his Word, they had to be baptized. They wanted to be “saved,” or destined for a better place after this worldly life was over. Their baptism conveyed to the world that they had made their choice and would follow the teachings of Jesus from that day forward.
When do I know I’m ready?
Some churches baptize their members when they reach a certain age. Other churches believe it is an individual decision, one that comes after a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. In the book of Acts, five steps of salvation are laid out by Peter. These are as follows:
- Believe in Jesus and His message
- Acknowledge your sins and repent of them
- Be converted to the ways of the church
- Participate in baptism as a public sign of faith
- Follow God’s teachings from that point forward
Are you ready to do those things? If you feel ready, then you probably are. Talk to your pastor or clergy member about what comes next for you.
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