Ready to Go Public for Jesus?
Baptism is the first “next step” after becoming a Christian. It’s such an important act that Jesus set the example for his followers by getting baptized himself by John in the Jordan River. But what is baptism and why is it important to "go public" for Jesus?
Why get baptized?
Baptism isn't a right of passage or something to be done because others do it. Biblically, there are 3 reasons to get baptized.
- Because Christ commanded his followers to be baptized. (Matthew 28:19-20)
- To follow the example of Jesus. (Mark 1:9)
- Because baptism expresses publicly the spiritual decision you experienced privately. (Acts 18:8) Visually, as a person goes under water, it represents the “passing away” of their life before Christ, and as they come out of the water, it represents being born again through faith in Jesus Christ. Finally, as the believer comes up out of the water, the water washing over them is a picture of the washing away of their sins by Jesus.
Why be baptized by immersion?
At First Marion, we practice baptism by immersion. You may have heard it described as “getting dunked.” In practice, the candiate is completely submerged under the water during their baptism. Why do we practice this method of baptism?
- Because it is how Jesus was baptized. (Matthew 3:16)
- Because every baptism in the Bible was by immersion. (Acts 8:38-39)
- Because the word baptize in the Greek means “to dip under water.”
- Because immersion best symbolizes Christ’s burial and resurrection.
At First Marion, you may also hear our baptism called "Believer’s Baptist." What does this mean?
Believer’s Baptism is any baptism that happens AFTER one accepts Christ, not beforehand. (Acts 2:41, 8:12, 8:13)
Would you like to be baptized?
To discuss baptism with our pastor, email him by clicking here.
