What is Baptism?

Baptism is an important step of faith. Baptism is a physical illustration of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus instructs every Christ-follower to be baptized to illustrate the fact that they have committed to and are following Him. Baptism displays the beginning of the Christian life.

I want to get baptized

Baptism does not make you a believer–it shows that you are a believer. Baptism does not save you–only faith in Christ can do that. Baptism is much like a wedding ring. It is an outward symbol of the commitment you have already made in your heart and mind. 
  • It illustrates Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
    1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
    Colossians 2:12, “…having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
  • It illustrates my new life as a Christian.
    Romans 6:4, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
    Titus 3:5, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit…”
The Bible helps us understand why we should be baptized. There are several reasons:
  • To follow the example set by Christ.
    Mark 1:9, “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”
  • Because Christ commands it.
    Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
  • Baptism after salvation publicly demonstrates your profession to be a Christian.
    Acts 18:8, “many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.”
    1 John 2:3, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

West Lynchburg is one of many thousands of local churches that hold to the belief that baptism should be by immersion–we go into a pool or body of water and immerse all the way under water. There are several reasons for this belief: 

  • Because Jesus was baptized that way.
    Matthew 3:16, “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water…”
  • Every baptism in the New Testament was by immersion.
    (Example) Acts 8:38-39, “…And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water…”The word “baptize” means “to dip under water.” The Greek word “baptize” means “to immerse or dip under water.”
  • It best symbolizes a burial and resurrection.