Believer's Baptism

Here at Willingham Baptist we love a good reason to celebrate and that's just what we do when someone asks to be baptised. Baptism speaks powerfully of a life which has been made new in Christ.

'Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united

with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.

The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!'

(2 Corinthians 5:17 from The Message)

Why should I be baptised?

Baptism is for all those Christians who want to proclaim their love for, and commitment to, Jesus their Saviour. When considering baptism people sometimes get stuck at the question 'why should I be baptised?' Maybe then it is better to ask (just like the Ethiopian in Acts 8:37) the question:

'why shouldn't I be baptised?'

The Christian life is not to be lived anonymously, instead it is to be shared and talked about and the act of baptism definitely gives people plenty to talk about! It kind of shouts out to people that your faith in Jesus is at the core of your life, that there's nothing to be ashamed about and that you want to declare it in a powerful manner.

What does the Bible say?

Well, the Bible makes it very clear that baptism was an integral part of faith practice in the early church. Jesus himself was baptised (Matthew 3:13-17) as a testimony to His willingness to serve. And in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) we are surely left in no doubt that those who believe are to be baptised? Jesus said, '...go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...' That certainly seems to include all those who follow Christ? On the day of Pentecost we read of an amazing baptism of 'about 3000 people!' Having just realised that they have crucified the one sent to them by God, the people that were gathered before Peter asked, '...what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off...' (Acts 2:37-39). An awareness of the need to repent resulted in many believing and then being baptised - a great example to us today. You can find other examples of baptism by looking at the following Bible verses: Acts 9:10-19, 10:44-48, 16:13-15, 25-34, 18:8, 19:1-7. Baptism then seems to be the norm, not the exception.

What does baptism mean?

• It proclaims and celebrates your faith in Christ. 
• It brings to life your union with Jesus - His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4)
• It is a sign of cleansing  (Acts 22:16; Titus 3:5)
• It is an indication of God's Holy Spirit within you (Acts 2:38)
• It is a sign of entering the church (1 Corinthians 12:13)
• It is an act of revolution (Romans 6:4) - a proclamation of new life in Christ

What should I do now?

• Interested? Want to know more? Why not find out a bit more about the Christian faith? Make a point of talking to Christians you come in to contact with. Seek out an Alpha course and begin to go along to church to find out more? Find out more about this Jesus and the difference he can make in your life.
• Maybe you don't feel good enough to be baptised? Well, no one is 'good enough' but that's exactly why we should be baptised! Believer's baptism proclaims our belief and experience that in Jesus our sins have been forgiven, baptism 'speaks' of our forgiveness in a 'visible way!
• I believe but haven't been baptised? Maybe it's time to consider the key question mentioned above, 'why shouldn't I be baptised? After all, Jesus commanded that disciples be baptised and the early church applied his teaching. Perhaps by leaving out believer's baptism we ignore a foundational practice of the Christian church? Have a talk with someone in your church leadership and pray about what you should do.
• Been baptised (christened) as a child? Well there's a huge difference between infant baptism and being baptised as a 'believer'. Faith is all about an individuals relationship with God through Jesus so it's not possible for someone else to achieve faith for us, faith is personal, it's between you and God. Believer's baptism is voluntary - carried out by a person who has come to their own point of faith in Jesus whereas infant baptism is involuntary. Believer's baptism follows a proclamation of faith, infant baptism precedes and anticipates faith. Believer's baptism celebrates new birth in Christ and the promises are made personally by the believer. Infant baptism hopes for new life and the promises are made on the child's behalf. Regardless of what might have happened in the past, believer's baptism is for you if you now profess your own faith in Jesus as Saviour.
• And, if you've already been baptised as a believer? Then why not take some time out and reflect again on that special day? Remember all that happened - how you met with God. As you do so, speak out some prayers of thanksgiving to God. And why not tell someone who hasn't heard about the day you were baptised...

Believer's Baptism is a dynamic expression of a persons faith in Jesus as their Saviour - it's an incredibly exciting and significant place to reach on our faith journey with Christ. If you would like to know more about Believer's Baptism then why not speak to someone in your church leadership, alternatively, if you're part of Willingham Baptist Church or live locally to us then speak to our minister, Revd Jonathon Daniel.