Good News | What is Baptism? | Communion | Jesus | The Resurrection | The Trinity | The Da Vinci Code | Room Bookings | Reception Rota | Chatters Rota | What is Baptism?
Baptism is the way that someone shows they have decided to follow Jesus. It involves water. Some churches just sprinkle water over somebody, or make the sign of the cross on the person's forehead with water - this is usually done to a baby. Jesus was baptised by his cousin John. The Bible says Jesus came up out of the water. Baptism by immersion is when the person is immersed - lowe red under the water and immediately pulled back up again. That is what Baptists (and some other churches) do.
Why do you do that?
Jesus was killed and came back to life three days later. In the book of Romans baptism is compared to being buried with Jesus and rising again. The water is like a grave: the old dead life is buried in the grave when the person goes under the water. When someone decides to follow Jesus they are given a new life. Coming up out of the water is a symbol of rising to new life.
What about babies?
In the Old Testament a new born baby was taken to the priest and presented or dedicated to God. This was what was done to Jesus when he was just a few days old This is what Baptists still do.
Jesus commanded his followers to baptise those who choose to follow him, 'teaching them to observe everything that I have taught you'. This means that someone must be able to understand before they are baptised. This is why we only baptise believers - people who say they want to follow Jesus. Unless someone is unwell, we baptise them by immersion. There is a pool under the floor at the front of the church which we use. Feel free to come and watch. If we are having a baptism it will say so on the What are we doing page.
Want to know more?
If you would like to talk to someone about baptism please use the contact form. If you are in Ryde you might like to call into the George Street Centre. Below are the bits from the Bible that talk about baptism.
When Jesus was a baby:
Joseph and Mary took him (Jesus) up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. When the parents brought in the child Jesus, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.
You can read the full story in the Gospel of Luke chapter 2 verses 21 to 39
When Jesus was baptised:
"As soon as Jesus was baptised he went up out of the water". This is in the gospel of Matthew chapter 3 verse 16.
The disciples also baptised people in this way. The book of Acts chapter 8 tells of a eunuch (court official) from Ehiopia who was baptised by Philip. "Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him". The whole story is in verses 26 to 39.
Jesus commanded his followers to baptise:
Jesus said "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." Matthew 28 verses 18 to 20.
The Meaning of Baptism:
"Don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." This is from Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 6 verses 3 and 4. The whole of chapters 5 to 8 talk about how we can be set free from the power of sin to enjoy this new life.
|