Why get baptised?

As Baptism is one of only two ‘ordinances’ or commands Jesus issued (the other being to take communion), the question maybe should not be one of ‘why be baptised?’,  but more appropriately one of 'when can I be baptised?'

However…

A) We choose to get baptised as an outward sign of our having faith in Jesus.
B) We do it because Jesus was baptised. (Mark 1:9-11)
C) We baptise new believers because Jesus commanded us to. (Matthew 28:19)
D) We are following in the steps of the church from the early times until now (Acts18:8)

Obviously that explains ‘Why’ but doesn’t actually reveal any purpose to the whole experience and baptism is definitely more than a well needed bath.

When we are baptised it is a symbol or outward sign or show of our faith in Jesus and that we are joining with Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection. As we stand in the water it is symbolising the death of Jesus and as we are raised from the water it is a symbol of our ‘death’ to our old life and our ‘resurrection’ with him to a new eternal life (Romans 6:3-5).  It is often a profound spiritual experience and the bible teaches that baptism literally separates us from our past life (Col 2:12).

How should we be baptised?

The bible has numerous incidents of baptism in it and the common theme within them appears to be water… it is accepted generally that you need to be baptised in water. The Greek word ‘bapto’, that we take ‘baptise’ from in the bible, means ‘to dip’... So….we should be dipped in the water.

Who?

The only thing you need is to have professed faith in the Lord Jesus beforehand as the bible is clear that the order of events was new faith first... then baptism... (Acts 2:37-41) (Acts 8:12-13).

There appears to be no reason to wait. Indeed in the early church, new believers were often baptised immediately. At the Vineyard Church there is also no real reason to wait except for a baptism service to be scheduled because we don’t have a handy pool at Edgbarrow.  We hold our baptism services at Yateley Manor School, two or three times a year. 

Download our leaflet on baptism for a more detailed explanation.

Contact Steve Weaver for more details.