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Believer's Baptism
The next step that a new Christian should take after praying to receive Christ as one's personal Lord and Savior and publicly professing their faith in Him is to follow the Lord in Believer's Baptism.
It is important to understand that baptism IS NOT what saves a person. It is an act of obedience that represents the death-burial-and resurrection of Christ, and openly identifies us with Him.
Believer's Baptism is carried out by the Pastor immersing a new believer in water.
You may wonder why the Baptist Church practices baptism in this manner and other churches baptize in different ways. Provided below are some questions and answers regarding Believer's Baptism:
1. WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED? - ALL believers should be baptized if at all possible. Jesus died publicly for us. We should be willing to identify publicly with Him.
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles – Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2;37 – 38, New International Version)
2. WHY SHOULD A NEW BELIEVER BE BAPTIZED? – Because Jesus Christ commands it! Jesus was baptized as an example for us to follow, and Jesus said "Follow Me!"
In the Great Commission, Jesus instructs His disciples to baptized all new believers in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
"Therefore 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 I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19 – 20a, New International Version)
*Believer's Baptism is a testimony to the world that we have decided to follow Jesus.
3. WHEN SHOULD A NEW BELIEVER BE BAPTIZED? – As soon as possible.
(See Acts 2:41, 8:38, and Acts 16:25 – 33)
4. HOW SHOULD A NEW BELIEVER BE BAPTIZED? – By immersion in water. The term – Baptism – comes from the Greek word baptize, which means to plunge asunder or to immerse. According to Scripture, this is how Jesus was baptized. The Bible clearly states that after Jesus was baptized, that he "went up out of the water" (Matthew 3:16, New International Version).
*It is important to understand that ALL THINGS must be done in accordance with the teachings of Scripture.
Believer's Baptism represents the death of our old life and the birth of a new life in Christ.
In 2nd Corinthians 5:17, the Bible tells us: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." (New International
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