WATER BAPTISM

 Water Baptism, or Baptism by immersion, is also called ‘Believers Baptism’.

Before a person is baptised he must first have repented of his sins, and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Baptism speaks of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we follow the Lord's command to be baptised, we identify with Him in this way. When you accepted Christ as your saviour your sins were forgiven - you became ‘dead’ to your past life. 

Baptism signifies this death. The water into which you are immersed is like a ‘grave’ and indicates that you are buried with Christ. As you rise from the water you testify that you are a new creation, rising in the newness of life in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:4 “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.”

Colossians 2:12 “Having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

"What if I was baptised as a child? If I was sprinkled as a child, is it necessary for me to be baptised again?” Some people have legitimate questions about being baptised again if they were ‘christened’ as a baby. 

If you were christened as a baby in your church or denomination the scriptures strongly tell us that we should be baptised in believer's baptism. 

Baptism, as we have seen, is for those who have repented of their sins, believedin the Lord Jesus Christ, and are saved. Babies and young children are incapable of making such a decision, hence their christening, or ‘infant baptism’ was not believer's baptism. It was an act of faith by their parents.

Baptism always follows conversion. Once you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and committed your life to Him it is so important to take that further step.

Mark 16:16 

“Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, whoever does not believe will be condemned. 

The word ‘baptise’ in the original Greek language of the New Testament, means, ‘to dip’, or ‘to immerse’. 

How do we know that Jesus was immersed when He was baptised?

Mark 1:10 “As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.”

When Philip baptised the Ethiopian eunuch, how do we know that he immersed him? They both went down into the water. Acts 8:38 And both came up out of the water. Acts 8:39

The Bible makes it clear that baptism is not an optional extra.

Mark 16:15-16 “Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved.”

In these verses Jesus commands us to be baptised.

In fact Jesus himself was baptised (Mark 1:9). He had no need to repent of sin, because He was without sin. However, He set an example for us to follow.

Jesus commanded His disciples to baptise people.  Matthew 28:19

Early believers were told to be baptised. Acts 2:38

Wherever the disciples went, they practised water baptism. 

Acts 8:12, 36; Acts 10:47-48

The Apostle Paul was baptised. Acts 9:18

 The greatest truth about Baptism is that when Jesus died on the cross He was totally identified with me.

- He took my sin and my sickness  -He carried them on the cross,

- He arose for my justification

- So, He in Baptism, expects me to be totally identified with Him in death, burial and resurrection.

- I died with Christ - I am buried with Christ

- I am raised with Christ - I am risen with Christ

- I am enthroned with Christ

Paul sums up this act of obedience in - Colossians 3:3 

“For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

What if I don’t feel like this truth after I’ve been baptised?

We are to live by faith, not by feelings. Faith says it so. (Romans 6:11). 

Being ‘risen with Christ’ (Colossians 3:1-2), we are to "…seek those things which are above’. We are to "…set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth".

 You cannot in your own strength. No-one can.

"We are raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Christ from the dead".  Colossians 2:12 

The same power that worked in the Lord Jesus in raising Him, operates in us as we trust God. As we have confidence in the strength of the human baptiser to raise us out of the water, so we must trust in the strength of God to raise us with Christ into this new Divine life. 

 If you are an attender at VCF we invite you to please talk to one of the Leadership Team.

They will try to answer any further questions you have and advise you when the next opportunity for water baptism will take place

If you are not in our area please contact us using the form below and we will do our best to put you in contact with a Bible believing church in your area who can assist you in being baptised.