Christian water baptism has been practised by followers of Jesus for over 2,000 years. Jesus claimed to be God’s son and that anyone who put their faith in Him would have their sins Forgiven, be Filled with his Holy Spirit and would spend their whole life Following him.
Leading by example, at the age of 30, Jesus himself was baptised in the Jordan River and commanded that his followers baptise anyone else who came to put their faith in him! Baptism is thus an act of loving obedience to Jesus for anyone who believes in Jesus and his gospel message.
Four Keys to Baptism
Who?
Anyone who has put their faith in Jesus and his gospel message.
Read more: Matthew 28:18-20
What?
An Act of loving obedience to Jesus’ command for all who seek to follow his example.
Read more: Matthew 3:13-17
How?
Immersing All of the body symbolising union with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
Read more: Romans 6:3-5
Why?
Pledge of Allegiance to Jesus and a public declaration of your Acceptance into his family.
Read more: 1 Peter 3:21-22; 1 Cor 12:12-13
Jesus' Gospel Message
This brief video provides a visual illustration of the gospel message of Jesus. This is especially helpful for people who may not be confident they understand the key components of his main teaching.
What happens at a Baptism?
Below is a potential outline for a Christian Baptism. There is no evidence that Jesus gave a “script” for baptism. The below is simply an expression of repentance for sin, faith and a life of obedience to Jesus.
Bold + underlined bits are for the person being baptised.
Pastor’s / Leader’s Declaration
[NAME], God Loves and has brought you into His family
He sent Jesus to die for your sins
He has given you eternal life and fills you with His Holy Spirit
Questions
PASTOR/LEADER: Do you believe Jesus lived, died, rose again to pay the penalty of sin?
YOU: “Yes” / “I do”
PASTOR/LEADER: Do you repent of your sin and submit your life to following Jesus?
YOU: “Yes” / “I do”
Declaration
Based on your faith in Jesus I now baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Get Baptised:
- Fold your arms over your chest with your hands together.
- Baptiser’s will place one hand on top of your clasped hands and one behind your back.
- They will lay you back into the water and bring you up again.
Someone will pray for you, often for God’s blessing on your life and a new filling of the Holy Spirit just like Jesus’ baptism.
Want to get baptised? Contact us.
Baptism Scriptures from the Bible
“And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."”
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."”
Matthew 3:13-17 ESV
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Romans 6:3-5 ESV
21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
1 Peter 3:21-22
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ESV