ABOUT BAPTISM

Baptism is an important step of obedience that shows others we have personally trusted Jesus for our salvation. Jesus was baptized when He was on the earth, and we do this to follow His example. When people believe in Jesus and are baptized, they are submerged under water to identify with the death and burial of Jesus and raised out of the water to identify with His resurrection. We believe that water baptism is a public declaration of three important things: you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are beginning a changed life in Christ, and you are part of a new family.

Baptism at MCChurch

If baptism is the next step in your relationship with Jesus, please email or call the church on the details listed at the bottom of this website. This is a very special event for you and we also want to give you opportunity to invite family and friends along to hear the Good News that they are loved by Christ. Also, we invite you to learn more about baptism by reading the following articles.

WHY BE BAPTISED?

We enter into baptism for 3 key reasons:

Because we want to follow Christ’s example. Jesus Himself was baptised. He was not a sinner, yet He humbled Himself in obedience to identify with us and give us an example to follow.

“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.” (Mark 1:9)

Because Christ commanded it. Water baptism is an act of faith and obedience to the commands of Christ.

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15; James 2:17-18)

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Because it shows you are a believer. Baptism declares that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of your faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ. It is the next step after salvation through repentance and faith and is an important foundation for the Christian life (Hebrews 6:1-2).

“Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved . . . ,” Mark 16:16
“Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Acts 2:38

How are we to be Baptised?

The Bible is clear that we are to be baptised as Jesus was baptised – by being immersed in water. The word “baptise” comes from the Greek word baptizo which means “to immerse or dip under water”. Matthew 3:16 says, “As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water.”

Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water. The book of Acts shows us that this was the norm for every believer. For example, in Acts 8:38-39 says, “Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. When they came up out of the water...” There is no reason for us to believe that baptism of new believers happened any other way than immersion under water.

Who should be Baptised?

Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ can be baptised. When Paul writes to the believers in Rome, he assumes that all of them have been baptised (read Romans 6). The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ, and we see this clearly in the New Testament:

“Those who accepted his message were baptised...” Acts 2:41

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.” Acts 8:12

We do not baptise children until they are old enough to understand and believe. Instead, we make room in our worship services for children to be dedicated to the Lord.

what is The Meaning of Baptism?

Baptism is a visible act with a spiritual meaning. Below are clear, biblical teachings of the meaning of baptism.

It is our identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead.

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4

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.” Colossians 2:12

It is a powerful symbol of our new life as a Christian. We bury the ‘old life’ and we rise to walk in a ‘new life’. Baptism is like a wedding ring – it is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart, a commitment that has to be followed through and lived out on a daily basis.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“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.” Romans 6:4

Baptism does not make you a believer; it shows that you already are one! Baptism does not ‘save’ you; only your faith in Christ does that.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

In baptism, the believer has the triune name of the triune God placed upon them — ‘Father’, ‘Son’ & ‘Holy Spirit’. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the name of the Godhead (one God in three persons). The Gospels tell us to baptise believers “...into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Baptism confirms our position ‘in Christ’ and affirms the blessings of the Father on us as His children.

Baptism also connects us to the ‘body of Christ’, His people in the earth. In baptism there is a real sense of being joined with other believers, not just participating in an individual act of our own spiritual journey.

“For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body . . .” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13