Baptism
What is Baptism?
Baptism is a public profession of a believer’s faith in Christ – an outward expression of inner spiritual change. Baptism comes from the Greek word “baptiz” meaning “to plunge, dip, immerse.”
Baptism is a concrete way for believers to demonstrate their obedience to Jesus’ command to profess faith in Him publicly. As a person is immersed in the water, he or she is proclaiming: “I believe in Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection; and I am trusting in Him alone for my salvation” (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Acts 4:12).
No! There is no causal link between baptism and salvation. Baptism is not “essential” for salvation, but it is an important first step of obedience. You are baptized to show that you have been saved. Otherwise, Paul would not write in 1 Corinthians 1:17, “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
1.It is a way of identifying oneself with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Going under the water symbolizes His death and burial, while rising out of the water symbolizes His resurrection as well as a believers’ new life in Christ (Romans 6:1-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17).
2. It is a public profession as a believer in Christ an outward expression of an inner spiritual change (Matthew 10:32).
3. It is obedience to Jesus’ command. In the Great Commission, Jesus made it clear that baptism is a part of the process of making disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Baptism is more properly called an “ordinance.” We participate in the ordinance of baptism because it was ordained and commanded (“ordered”) by the Lord Jesus Christ as a symbolic demonstration of our faith in Him. Even though baptism does not save, it is not optional. The Bible commands believers to be baptized (Matthew 28:19-20).
We choose to follow Christ’s example by using full submersion.
Can you answer “yes” to the following questions?
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Do you believe that you are a sinner separated from God? (Romans 3:23)
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Do you believe that your sins deserve punishment and that the punishment for your sin is death? (Romans 6:23)
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Do you believe that there is nothing you can do to earn salvation? (Ephesians 2:8-9)
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Do you believe that God loved you so much that He sent His Son to the cross for you and there took your punishment? (John 3:16; Romans 5:8)
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Have you put your trust in Christ? (Romans 10:9-10)
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With all your heart, do you intend to walk with Christ all of your life? (Colossians 1:10)
Baptism Sundays
We believe choosing to follow Jesus is the greatest and most important decision of every person’s life; therefore it deserves to be celebrated. If you have chosen to get baptized with us, we want to celebrate that decision with you on one of our Baptism Sundays listed below! To sign up, find the next available Baptism Sunday listed below and sign up by emailing us at secretary@olivetbaptistnc.org with the number of friends and family that will be joining! If none of these dates work for you, please let us know.
We cannot wait to celebrate with you!
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons.” Luke 15:7
Here is a list of our upcoming Baptism Sundays…
- June 2nd, 2024