Faith Family Celebration is right around the corner! That means it's time to celebrate baptisms once again. At Berean, we take baptism seriously. It isn’t something that “gets you into Heaven” or makes you a Christian. It is simply a public declaration to the church body (and the world) that you have turned to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior through faith and repentance. In Matthew 3:13-17, we see Jesus himself being baptized, showing us what he has asked us to do to publicly identify ourselves with him and with the church body.
Baptism is an important step for every believer.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus asked us to declare our decision to follow him in this way? Why do we have to get wet? Why do we have to do it in front of the church? Why not just gather people together and share it with a microphone? Why not wear a T-shirt, get a tattoo, or just update our social media profile? Jesus wanted his death, burial, and resurrection, and the fact that we have been washed of our sin and made a new creation in him, to be on full visual display.
Baptism is incredibly symbolic.
It is a beautiful picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It shows that we have died to our sins and our old way of life and are now alive to a new life in Jesus. So, how does baptism do this?
- The Water:
First, we baptize with water. Water is symbolic of being washed clean. Just like we use water to take a shower or a bath to clean ourselves of dirt and filth, we have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus. His death took the place of our death. Therefore, our sin has been paid for and is no longer attached to us. Do the baptism waters actually wash us of our sin? No, but they are symbolic of the washing we have experienced in Jesus.
- Immersion in Water:
Next, the fact that we go under the water (we call this baptism by immersion) is also intentional and symbolic. It demonstrates that Jesus died on the cross (going back into the water), was buried (under the water), and rose again (coming up out of the water) giving us the hope and promise of eternal life in him. When we get baptized, we show others what Christ did for us: He died, was buried, and then, conquering death, rose again to new life. By this, we too can have new life in him. He is the only way for our sins to be washed away and for us to be in a right relationship with God.
Baptism represents the fact that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection count as our death, burial, and resurrection. Our sin has been dealt with justly and is attached to us no more. We are a new creation because of what Jesus did for us.
When we respond to the gospel through repentance and faith in Jesus, we are a new creation, and we both show and declare this as we come out of the water.
Baptism publicly tells others what Jesus has done for us.
It is important for us to get baptized in the presence of our church body of believers. At Berean, we call the church body our Faith Family. If baptism is to be a public profession of our faith, and it is a picture of what Jesus did and what that means for us, then others need to be able to see it. It is a way for us to publicly identify ourselves with Christ and his Church. As the church body sees us get baptized, they are witnesses to our profession of faith and can welcome us in as one of their own.
Wow, what an incredible thing! Jesus could have asked us to just stand up and tell people, but he asked us to physically bear witness to who he is, what he did for us, and who we are in him.
What a beautiful picture. That is why we take baptism seriously and celebrate every person who comes out of these waters. In Christ, we are forever changed!
Have you been baptized yet?
Our next Faith Family Celebration is coming up soon. It's a time to celebrate all that God is doing in the life of Berean and our Faith Family. If you have put your faith in Jesus, and you have made the decision to follow him, baptism is for you! Take the next step to share how God has changed your life! There's no need to wait. Begin the baptism process today by signing up to attend our next First Connection class. First Connection only happens on the first Sunday of every month. So, if you plan to get baptized at the next Faith Family Celebration, you will want to get registered for First Connection right away.
Let's also not forget that baptism isn't just for adults. It's for kids and teenagers too. Parents, let me encourage you to talk about baptism with your children. Take them to a Faith Family Celebration and let them witness believers getting baptized. It is a great opportunity to talk to your children about what is taking place and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. And better yet, if you haven’t taken the step of believer’s baptism, there is no better way to show your kids what it is all about than to follow in obedience to Jesus and be baptized yourself.
We want to come alongside you!
We love walking through the process of baptism with people at Berean. Why? Because it isn’t just a bunch of people getting wet. It is a beautiful picture of who Jesus is, what he has done for us, and going from death to life in him. Be sure to read the details below about how both adults and kids can start the process of baptism today!
Read below to start the process of baptism today!
- Adults start the baptism process by attending First Connection which happens on the first Sunday of every month. You'll learn more about what we believe at Berean and why we think being connected in areas such as membership, serving, giving, and growing in your faith is important. You'll also have the opportunity to share a little of your story and hear some of Berean's story. Click here to register for First Connection today.
- Kids and Students start the baptism process by registering here. We will help parents lead their children through a discussion on the gospel and help kids write out their testimony of coming to faith in Jesus. Together you will meet with a pastor to affirm this step and ask any questions. Click here to start the process today.
Read More About baptism Here:
- Why Baptism Matters: Making an Inner Transformation an Outer Proclamation
by Emily Harper - Faith Commitment Milestone: Part 3
by Ben Holden