BAPTISM

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Baptism declares to the world you’ve made a commitment to follow Jesus, and that you’re ready to start a new life in connection with God. Baptism doesn’t save us, but we believe it’s an important outward expression of an inward change that happened when you said “yes” to receive Jesus as Lord. Being baptized also shares this decision with others, and allows them to celebrate and learn why it was important. At Journey of Faith we baptize by immersion because it’s how we see Jesus being baptized in scripture (Matthew 3:13-17). Being baptized by immersion symbolizes dying to our old ways and habits, and raising again to a new life that Jesus has for us!

READY TO GET BAPTIZED?

BAPTISM FAQ

Why should I be baptized?

Why does baptism matter? Jesus instructs us to be baptized and set the example by being baptized himself. (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 1:9) Obedience to Jesus shows we believe and desire to follow Him. (1 John 2:3) Because Jesus went public about His love for us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptized shows both to ourselves and to others that we don’t want to just live however we feel, but instead desire learn and live for God.

When am I ready to be baptized?

If you’ve committed your life to Jesus then baptism is your next step! Whether you said yes 20 years ago or this week, we believe baptism is an important step in your faith journey. There is only one requirement to be baptized: making the decision to follow Jesus with your life. There’s no spiritual milestone you have to meet to be baptized. It’s a commitment to God to keep moving forward in your faith!

Where do I get baptized?

We offer several options for baptism throughout the year including on-campus opportunities and beach baptism. If you are looking for a more private gathering we can even arrange for a backyard pool gathering! It is not important where you get baptized, just that you do!

Do you baptize children?

As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but they are the ones to decide if they will commit their lives to Him. (Romans 10:9) Any instance of baptism follows a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him. (Acts 10:47-48) At Journey of Faith we wait until children are old enough to express their own decision to follow Jesus and understand the meaning of baptism.
If your child has already asked Jesus into their life, explain what baptism is and what it means. Facilitate the conversation, and then when they express they are ready please do sign-up on their behalf. Let us know if you have specific questions on the registration form.

Do I need to be baptized again?

If you haven’t been baptized by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, we want to help you take this step. Once you’ve been baptized, even if it was at a different church, there’s no need to be baptized again.

What is the difference between immersion, sprinkling or other methods?

Baptisms in the Bible were by immersion. The original word for baptism most often referred to being immersed or submerged in water. Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the water and rising out of it as described in the Bible. (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10) Submersion in the water symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) Being submersed underwater represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus raised us and gave us a new life to live. (Romans 6:3-5)