Baptism
Baptism
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT BAPTISM OR TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEXT BAPTISM?
Why Be Baptized?
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice [came] from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3:16-17
Jesus was baptized when He was on earth, and we do this to follow His example. When Christians are baptized, we are submerged under water to identify with the death and burial of Jesus and raised out the water to identify with His resurrection. Water baptism is a public demonstration of three important things: you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are beginning a change life in Christ, and you are part of a new family, the Body of Christ.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” – Matthew 3:16–17
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:18–20
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM?
Water baptism is a public declaration of three very important things:
You are a follower of Jesus Christ.
“Those who accepted his message were baptized.” —Acts 2:41
You are beginning a changed life in Christ.
“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
You are part of a new family.
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:26–27
I HAVE ALREADY BEEN BAPTIZED. SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED AGAIN?
Your baptism should have signified you became a follower of Jesus Christ, your life had changed, and you became part of a new family. If your baptism did not reflect this change, you should get baptized again.
CAN MY CHILD BE BAPTIZED?
We encourage parents to download the LTWI Kids Baptism Guide and to partner with our LTWI Youth and Nu Generation ministries to guide your children through their decisions of faith. Kids Baptism Guides are also available at the hospitality desks in the Joybel Center and main sanctuary.
CAN MY INFANT BE BAPTIZED?
Throughout the New Testament, the Bible teaches that baptism is a public expression of worship symbolizing the new life we have when we follow Jesus.
In the Bible, we also see that Jesus’ parents dedicated him to the Lord (Luke 2:22–40), and he was later baptized as an adult (Matthew 3:16–17).
At LTWI, if a parent wishes, we will conduct a child dedication (Christening) for children who have yet to understand the significance of baptism. This ceremony is intended to be a commitment between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his or her own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed and is different from the biblical examples of new believers being baptized to publicly profess their faith in Jesus. So at Living the Word International we provide opportunities for both, children dedication and believer’s baptism.
