What is Baptism?

Everyone who follows Jesus (has accepted Him as their Savior from their sins) should be baptized in water. Matthew 28:19 says, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”

What does being “baptized” mean? 

Baptism is the special time when you publicly show others that you’re a Christian. This special time helps us remember that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was raised again on the third day, and that we have the Holy Spirit with us to guide us in our decisions as a Christian. The picture of what Jesus did for us in sending His son is represented when we go under the water (died for our sins) and come back up out of the water (He came back to life) to show that we are a “new” person ready to publicly live our life for Jesus.  

Why Water Immersion and not Sprinkling? 

In the Gospels at the beginning of the New Testament, we learn that John baptized Jesus (when he was living here on earth as a man) by immersion in the Jordan River. Since baptism is a picture of what Jesus did for us, we know that we fully represent His plan for living our faith publicly by baptizing with immersion (fully in and out of the water). 

Remember: walking with Jesus is not a race. Baptism is the first step after salvation for everyone, kids included, however it's possible your child might not be ready. And that’s OK! It's always better to wait than to pressure children to take a step they don't understand. See our “How do I know if my child is ready for Baptism?” blog for helpful tips on having this conversation.

This great video shows more about Baptism - we suggest you watch it together as a family!