What is Water Baptism

Water baptism is commanded by Jesus.  In water baptism, we submit our lives to the Lordship of Jesus.  We surrender to His authority and rulership. (Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 3:14, 15)

Water baptism is an action of commitment to the burial of your past and old ways.  To live the baptized life is to allow the Holy Spirit to resurrect you on a daily basis, lifting you above the dead habits of the past and into the newness of life for today and tomorrow.  (Romans 6:34, 4)

Water baptism represents a circumcision of our hearts (a cutting away of those behaviors that God may want to remove from our lives) and a "marking" of our lives as the blessed of the Lord, so new life and the power of God's fullest promise for our lives may be realized. (Colossians 2:11, 12)

Water baptism is intended to be a moment of deliverance. Bondages and yokes are broken. Your future is opened to the fullest possibilities of freedom in Christ.  You can arise and walk in the life giving power of Jesus.  Water baptism can be a miracle moment (1 Corinthians 10:1,2)

Through water baptism, the promise of the fullness of the Holy Spirit can be experienced.  We are not only to be baptized; we are to live the baptized life.  Living the baptized life means abiding in that fullness. (Acts 2:38)

Baptism is not only a ritual or ceremony. Through baptism, we appropriate the full worth, potential, power and possibilities of this imponderable point of partnership with Christ.  Be baptized! Live baptized! Just as Jesus was baptized, and the voice of God was heard, "This is My Son, in whom I am well pleased," you too will sense God's words reverberate in your heart… "I am pleased with you."

Who should be Water Baptized

1. All who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

2. Those who are obedient to the command of Scripture and follow the example of Christ.

Matthew 3:14-17

But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he *permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

Can Children be Baptized?

Acts 16:15

And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

Acts 16:33

And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

Mark 10:13-16

And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.