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What We Believe 
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Truth about Baptism 

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Home > English Ministry> Truth about Baptism

Why Should I Be Baptized?

1. To follow the example set by Christ.

¡°At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river¡± (Mark 1:9).

2. Because Christ commands it.

¡°Jesus said, ¡®Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything I have commanded you¡± (Matthew 28:19-20).

3. It demonstrates I really am a believer.

¡°Christ died for our sins¡¦He was buried¡¦and He rose again¡± (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

¡°For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ¡± (Colossians 2:12).

4. It illustrates my new life as a Christian

¡°When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. The old self has passed away and a new life has begun¡± (2 Corinthians 5:17).

¡°By our baptism, then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead¡¦so also we may live a new life!¡± (Romans 6:4).

5. Baptism does not make you a believer—it shows that you already believe. Baptism does not ¡°save¡± you. Only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring—it is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.

¡°For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith¡¦It is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast¡± (Ephesians 2:8-9).

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Why Be Baptized By Immersion?

1. Jesus was baptized that way.

¡°As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of water¡± (Matthew 3:16).

2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion.

One example: ¡°¡¦then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water¡¦¡± (Acts 8:38-39).

3. The word ¡°baptize¡± means ¡°to immerse or dip under water.¡±

4. Immersion best symbolizes a Burial and Resurrection!

The founders of several Christian denominations agree:

Martin Luther (Lutherans): ¡°I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies.¡±

John Calvin (Presbyterians): ¡°The word ¡®baptize¡¯ signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.¡±

John Wesley (Methodists): ¡°Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.¡±

Who Should Be Baptized?

Every person who has believed in Christ.

¡°Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized¡¦¡± (Acts 2:41).

¡°But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News¡¦and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women¡± (Acts 8:12).

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What About Children or Babies Being Baptized?

At World Agape Mission Church we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before baptizing them. Some churches practice a ¡°baptism of confirmation¡± for children. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his or her own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed. This is different from the baptism talked about in the Bible that was only for those old enough to believe. Baptism¡¯s purpose is to publicly confess your own personal commitment to Christ. (If parents wish to dedicate themselves publicly to the responsibility of raising their child, we encourage them to bring their child(ren) before the congregation in a ¡°service of dedication,¡± but no water is involved so the ceremony is not confused with believer¡¯s baptism).

When Should I Be Baptized?

1. As soon as you have believed!

¡°Those who believed¡¦were baptized¡¦that day¡± (Acts 2:41).

¡°Then Philip began with the Scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, ¡®Look, here is water! Why shouldn¡¯t I be baptized right now?¡¯ Philip said, ¡®If you believe with all your heart, you may.¡¯ The man answered, ¡®I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.¡¯ So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him¡± (Acts 8:35-38).

2. Your whole family can be baptized together, if each family member understands the meaning of baptism and has personally placed their trust in Christ for salvation.

What¡¯s the Next Step?

If you want to be baptized, let one of our pastors know personally or write a note on a prayer request form. A pastor will contact you to schedule your baptism at the next opportunity. He will also answer questions about what to wear and how you might choose to explain your faith by testimony.

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