Water Baptism

Why should I be baptized?

Jesus commanded His disciples to go everywhere in the world and tell the good news of His love to everyone. He said that those who believe the message should be baptized. (Mark 16:15–18, Matthew 28:19)

Jesus Himself was baptized by John the Baptist. John did not feel worthy to baptize Jesus, but Jesus said it was the right thing to do. (Matthew 3:13–17)

Water baptism identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  When we received Christ, the Bible says the old life is gone and a new life has come. We go down into the water (this is immersion) to signify our sinful life has died and come out of the water to signify that we are washed and revived to a new life in Christ. (Romans 6:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 3:21)

How should I be baptized?

The Bible clearly teaches baptism by immersion into water.  When Jesus was baptized, He came up out of the water. When Phillip baptized the Ethiopian officer, they went into the water and came up out of the water. (Matthew 3:16, Acts 8:38–39)

Jesus told His disciples to baptize believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

Who should be baptized?

Those who have believed the message of Jesus Christ and received Him as their Savior should be water baptized. (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 8:12)

Children 2nd–6th grade who desire to be water baptized must have received teaching and instruction on water baptism in Summit Sr. Elementary.

When should I be baptized?

The book of Acts shows several instances where believers were baptized at the time of their conversion or shortly thereafter. (Acts 2:41, 8:35–38, 10:47–48, 16:32–33)