WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Baptism is a simple act of obedience to Jesus Christ. It is not a work and earns you nothing in God’s eyes. It is complete immersion in water, symbolizing your death to sin, the burial of your old life, and your resurrection to a fresh new life with Christ. Baptism is a humble submission to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In the New Testament church, believers were baptized without debate. It was the standard then and it should be the norm today.
WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
The people in Jerusalem who heard Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost became painfully aware of their sin. They asked, "...what shall we do?" Peter answered, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins..." (Acts 2:38)
"But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. (Acts 8:12-13)
Based on these Biblical accounts and others, people first believed in what Jesus Christ did for them, they repented of their sins, and then they were baptized. According to the Bible, faith in Christ is the prerequisite for baptism.
WHY SHOULD YOU BE BAPTIZED
Jesus commanded it. The last words He spoke on earth were to His followers. He told them to "...go and make disciples of all the 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." (Matthew 28:19-20)
Belief followed by baptism is the Biblical pattern. "...many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized." (Acts 18:8; also see Acts 9:10-19; Acts 16:11-15)
Baptism demonstrates your faith in time and space. "...We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands." (I John 2:3)
Baptism connects the believer to Jesus. "...all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death…If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection." (Romans 6:3-5)
Baptism brings the Holy Spirit into your heart. "...Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift." (Acts 2:38)
WHEN SHOULD YOU BE BAPTIZED?
The most complete account of a baptism is in Acts 8 where a Christian named Philip shared Christ with a eunuch from Ethiopia. "Then Philip began with that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?'...Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him." (Acts 8:35-38) There really is no good reason to delay being baptized. When a believer declares his faith in Christ, he should be baptized.
Baptisms at PFCC can and do happen any time. We have a baptismal tank that can be prepared within 24 hours. You may be baptized publicly or privately. Public baptisms in one of our worship services give special testimony of the grace and love of Christ for all to witness. To schedule your baptism, call Pastor Gary at (530) 626-0291 or (916) 397-4875.
