About Baptism
Baptism is an important step in the life of a believer. It symbolizes the forgiveness of sins, washed away through the grace of a loving Savior. If this is something you feel that God is calling you toward and you are ready to take the next step, please contact Pastor John Snoderly @ [email protected]. Or stop by the Information Center to let us know of your interest.
What Is Baptism?
Baptism is an act that Jesus commands His followers to participate in.
(Matthew 28:19 NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The Bible also teaches us that baptism represents the pledge of a good conscience before God (1 Peter 3:21). In other words, baptism is something that Christians outwardly do in order to show what God has inwardly done. Jesus Christ gives new life to all who place their faith in Him. And in this process, there is a death to the former self, and a new resurrected life that follows. This is what Jesus referred to as being ‘born again’ (John 3:3), and what the Apostle Paul describes when he writes that believers in Christ are ‘new creatures, the old has gone and the new has come’ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When a person is submerged underwater as they’re baptized, it represents the death and burial of their old life. When they are brought up out of the water, it represents the new resurrected life that God has given to them (Romans 6:4). In other words, water baptism is a physical depiction of the spiritual work that God does within a person’s heart when they place their faith in Him. Let me also add that the only requirement for you to be baptized is that you believe in Jesus Christ, and that you understand what baptism represents.
(Acts 8:36-37 NKJV) Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” {37} Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
What Is Calvary's Position On Infant Baptism?
The fact of the matter is that there are no examples of infants or small children being baptized in the Bible. Furthermore, the Bible lays out certain requirements for baptism that no infant or young child could possibly meet. As Philip evangelized the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8, the eunuch asked “What hinders me from being baptized?” In other words, “What do I need to do before I can be baptized?” Philip’s answer to this question is very important because it sets a precedent for Christian doctrine:
(Acts 8:37-38 NKJV) Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” {38} So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Here we see that personal belief and faith in Jesus Christ is a pre-requisite for baptism. The Bible also tells us that we ought to recognize and appreciate the significance of what baptism represents. It depicts the burial of the old life and the hope of the new resurrected life in Christ.
(Romans 6:3-5 NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? {4} Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
What Is The Purpose Of Baptism?
According to the book of Romans, here’s the exact purpose for water baptism:
(Romans 6:3-5 ICB) Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ when we were baptized? We shared his death in our baptism. {4} So when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death. We were buried with him so that we could live a new life, just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father. {5} Christ died, and we have been joined with Christ by dying too. So we will also be joined with him by rising from death as he did.
Baptism is a symbolic act by which we share in the death and life of Jesus Christ. Jesus died and was buried for the sake of our sins. The process of being submerged in the water represents the death and burial of our old life. But Jesus was also raised from the dead in order to give us eternal life. As we’re raised out of the water, it represents our newfound life in Christ. By being baptized we’re essentially saying that we identify with what Jesus went through for us.
In a way, baptism is a funeral and a birthday celebration rolled into one. As we go down, we recognize the death of the old us, and as we come up, we celebrate the birth of the new us. God gave us this rite as a physical reminder of the spiritual decision that we’ve made. Baptism is also a way for us to practically put our faith into action and demonstrate to the world that we’ve died to our old selves and desires, and have received a new resurrection life in Christ. It keeps us accountable and mindful that the world is watching us and expects to see some sort of change in our lives.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Is Baptism Necessary For Salvation?
The teaching that water baptism is necessary for salvation is known as the doctrine of “Baptismal Regeneration.” In examining the following references, our hope is to give clear and concise reasons why Calvary Chapel Crossroads does not agree with this teaching.
1) The thief on the cross was given the promise of eternal life without being baptized as a Christian (Luke 23:40-43). This indicates that water baptism isn’t a necessary precedent in order to go to Heaven.
2) In Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus is converted on the road to Damascus three days before he was ever water baptized. The fact that he was saved before he was baptized is evidenced by his reference to Jesus as his Lord (v.5), God’s testimony to Ananias that Saul had been praying to Him (v.11), and Ananias’ calling Saul his “brother” (v.17). All of thispoints to the fact that Saul was converted and saved before he was water baptized.
3) In Acts 10, those of the house of Cornelius are saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit before they are ever baptized in water (10:44-48). This would have been impossible if water baptism were required for salvation.
In Whose Name Do You Baptize?
At Calvary Chapel Crossroads, we follow the pattern put forth for us by Christ in the gospel of Matthew:
(Matthew 28:19 NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
There are groups that believe that the church should baptize in the name of Jesus, alone, based on what we read in the following verse:
(Acts 2:38 NKJV) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
But it should be noted that Peter’s admonition here doesn’t necessarily exclude the Father and the Spirit. In fact, just as there is always 1 where there is 3, Jesus is always present in the Triune Godhead. Peter’s point was that Jesus must be present in baptism, not that the Father and Spirit must be absent! We know that this is true because if it weren’t, Jesus wouldn’t have commanded us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit in Matthew 28:19
Can I Be Baptized More Than Once?
There is no biblical prohibition against a Christian being baptized more than once. The only thing that I would mention, however, is that a person should truly examine their heart and make sure that they’re being re-baptized for the right reasons. I say this because we would never want something so special as baptism to become something that people flippantly take part in. But as long as water baptism is accompanied by the proper spirit of reverence and adoration for the Lord, Christians are free to be baptized as often as they choose or as often as the Lord leads them.
Should I Get Baptized Again If I Didn’t Know What I Was Doing The First Time?
As one reads the New Testament, it becomes fairly clear that a person should be baptized with an awareness of what they’re actually doing. Here are some key passages on this point:
(Acts 8:35-38 NKJV) Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. {36} Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” {37} Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” {38} So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: 1) baptism, and 2) the Lord’s Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion, both of which are open to all believers in Jesus Christ.
Baptism is an important step in the life of a believer. It symbolizes the forgiveness of sins, washed away through the grace of a loving Savior. If this is something you feel that God is calling you toward and you are ready to take the next step, please contact Pastor John Snoderly @ [email protected]. Or stop by the Information Center to let us know of your interest.
What Is Baptism?
Baptism is an act that Jesus commands His followers to participate in.
(Matthew 28:19 NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The Bible also teaches us that baptism represents the pledge of a good conscience before God (1 Peter 3:21). In other words, baptism is something that Christians outwardly do in order to show what God has inwardly done. Jesus Christ gives new life to all who place their faith in Him. And in this process, there is a death to the former self, and a new resurrected life that follows. This is what Jesus referred to as being ‘born again’ (John 3:3), and what the Apostle Paul describes when he writes that believers in Christ are ‘new creatures, the old has gone and the new has come’ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When a person is submerged underwater as they’re baptized, it represents the death and burial of their old life. When they are brought up out of the water, it represents the new resurrected life that God has given to them (Romans 6:4). In other words, water baptism is a physical depiction of the spiritual work that God does within a person’s heart when they place their faith in Him. Let me also add that the only requirement for you to be baptized is that you believe in Jesus Christ, and that you understand what baptism represents.
(Acts 8:36-37 NKJV) Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” {37} Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
What Is Calvary's Position On Infant Baptism?
The fact of the matter is that there are no examples of infants or small children being baptized in the Bible. Furthermore, the Bible lays out certain requirements for baptism that no infant or young child could possibly meet. As Philip evangelized the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8, the eunuch asked “What hinders me from being baptized?” In other words, “What do I need to do before I can be baptized?” Philip’s answer to this question is very important because it sets a precedent for Christian doctrine:
(Acts 8:37-38 NKJV) Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” {38} So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Here we see that personal belief and faith in Jesus Christ is a pre-requisite for baptism. The Bible also tells us that we ought to recognize and appreciate the significance of what baptism represents. It depicts the burial of the old life and the hope of the new resurrected life in Christ.
(Romans 6:3-5 NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? {4} Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
What Is The Purpose Of Baptism?
According to the book of Romans, here’s the exact purpose for water baptism:
(Romans 6:3-5 ICB) Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ when we were baptized? We shared his death in our baptism. {4} So when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death. We were buried with him so that we could live a new life, just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father. {5} Christ died, and we have been joined with Christ by dying too. So we will also be joined with him by rising from death as he did.
Baptism is a symbolic act by which we share in the death and life of Jesus Christ. Jesus died and was buried for the sake of our sins. The process of being submerged in the water represents the death and burial of our old life. But Jesus was also raised from the dead in order to give us eternal life. As we’re raised out of the water, it represents our newfound life in Christ. By being baptized we’re essentially saying that we identify with what Jesus went through for us.
In a way, baptism is a funeral and a birthday celebration rolled into one. As we go down, we recognize the death of the old us, and as we come up, we celebrate the birth of the new us. God gave us this rite as a physical reminder of the spiritual decision that we’ve made. Baptism is also a way for us to practically put our faith into action and demonstrate to the world that we’ve died to our old selves and desires, and have received a new resurrection life in Christ. It keeps us accountable and mindful that the world is watching us and expects to see some sort of change in our lives.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Is Baptism Necessary For Salvation?
The teaching that water baptism is necessary for salvation is known as the doctrine of “Baptismal Regeneration.” In examining the following references, our hope is to give clear and concise reasons why Calvary Chapel Crossroads does not agree with this teaching.
1) The thief on the cross was given the promise of eternal life without being baptized as a Christian (Luke 23:40-43). This indicates that water baptism isn’t a necessary precedent in order to go to Heaven.
2) In Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus is converted on the road to Damascus three days before he was ever water baptized. The fact that he was saved before he was baptized is evidenced by his reference to Jesus as his Lord (v.5), God’s testimony to Ananias that Saul had been praying to Him (v.11), and Ananias’ calling Saul his “brother” (v.17). All of thispoints to the fact that Saul was converted and saved before he was water baptized.
3) In Acts 10, those of the house of Cornelius are saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit before they are ever baptized in water (10:44-48). This would have been impossible if water baptism were required for salvation.
In Whose Name Do You Baptize?
At Calvary Chapel Crossroads, we follow the pattern put forth for us by Christ in the gospel of Matthew:
(Matthew 28:19 NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
There are groups that believe that the church should baptize in the name of Jesus, alone, based on what we read in the following verse:
(Acts 2:38 NKJV) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
But it should be noted that Peter’s admonition here doesn’t necessarily exclude the Father and the Spirit. In fact, just as there is always 1 where there is 3, Jesus is always present in the Triune Godhead. Peter’s point was that Jesus must be present in baptism, not that the Father and Spirit must be absent! We know that this is true because if it weren’t, Jesus wouldn’t have commanded us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit in Matthew 28:19
Can I Be Baptized More Than Once?
There is no biblical prohibition against a Christian being baptized more than once. The only thing that I would mention, however, is that a person should truly examine their heart and make sure that they’re being re-baptized for the right reasons. I say this because we would never want something so special as baptism to become something that people flippantly take part in. But as long as water baptism is accompanied by the proper spirit of reverence and adoration for the Lord, Christians are free to be baptized as often as they choose or as often as the Lord leads them.
Should I Get Baptized Again If I Didn’t Know What I Was Doing The First Time?
As one reads the New Testament, it becomes fairly clear that a person should be baptized with an awareness of what they’re actually doing. Here are some key passages on this point:
(Acts 8:35-38 NKJV) Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. {36} Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” {37} Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” {38} So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: 1) baptism, and 2) the Lord’s Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion, both of which are open to all believers in Jesus Christ.
