We are so excited that you’re interested in learning more about baptism. In the video, Pastor Dustin Aagaard explains the different ways that baptism beautifully illustrates what it means to walk in fullness of life with Christ. The old has gone, the new has come.
Would you like to be baptized?
BAPTISM QUESTIONS
Everyone who is willing to repent of their sins and confess their belief in Jesus Christ should be baptized (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38-39).
The word for "baptism" in the New Testament is the Greek word baptizo, which means "to immerse in water." The New Testament says baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:1-5). Baptism serves as a symbol of the burial of the old self and the resurrection of the believer's soul to walk in life with Christ. Therefore, at Journey, we baptize people by immersing them in water. If you have been sprinkled, we would love to talk with you about why immersion is important.
A person should be baptized at the time they express faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), and in the New Testament church, a person's baptism was always the first expression of faith, not separate from it. Therefore, baptism was not just a symbol or a memorial of faith, but was intended to offer a means of union with Jesus Christ and a benchmark of transformation, marking the place and time a person made a commitment to Christ (Romans 6:1-8).
A person should be baptized to follow the example of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17), to obey Jesus' command (Matthew 28:18), to receive forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), to express trust in Christ (Acts 8:12-13), and to testify to God's work in his or her life (Romans 6:1-8; Galatians 3:27). The only method by which the human soul can be wiped clean of sin is through the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:27-10:7), and this "washing away" of sin is most clearly symbolized in the act of baptism (Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
Any person who has trusted in Jesus as the only Son of God and who has willingly been immersed into Jesus may become a member of Journey Christian Church whether the baptism occurred here or elsewhere. Re-baptism is encouraged for those who lack confidence in their initial baptism experience because they don't remember it, they were coerced, or their heart was not right with God at the time. Anyone who has fallen into sin after having been baptized should repent and seek forgiveness, but re-baptism is not necessary (Acts 8:13-24).
Parent Resources
If you’re looking for ways to talk to your child about baptism, we have resources for both you and your child to walk through the meaning of baptism together.