Baptism

• Baptism is a visible symbol of our identification with Christ. We identify with Christ’s death and burial when we go under the water. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, our coming out of the water symbolizes that we now walk in a “newness” of life (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17). This does not mean we are now perfect; growing to become more like Christ is a process. But when we trust in Him for our salvation, we are no longer enslaved to sin, and we have the power through Christ to defeat what our flesh desires to do (Romans 6:5-11).

• Baptism is a public profession of belief in Christ. You are not saved by being baptized, but you are baptized to show that you have been saved. Salvation is a free gift paid for by Christ on the cross (1 Corinthians 1:17) and is not dependent on our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

• Baptism is an act of obedience for believers in Christ. Even though baptism does not save, the Bible still commands believers to be baptized (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.

• Baptism visibly displays our identification with Christ’s body, the Church. Baptism is not done in isolation; you can’t baptize yourself. Believers are baptized into the body (1 Corinthians 12:13) by someone who is already a member of the body. Typically, people are baptized by a leader in the local church

At Renovation Church, we believe baptism is for people who are able to make their own conscious decision to follow Jesus with their life. It is faith in Jesus that saves, not the water. If you have committed to follow Jesus but haven’t been baptized, it is a great next step.

If you believe you are ready to be baptized, can you say yes to the following questions?

• Do you believe that you are a sinner separated from God? (Romans 3:23)

• Do you believe that your sins deserve punishment and that the punishment for your sin is death? (Romans 6:23)

• Do you believe that there is nothing you can do to earn salvation? (Ephesians 2:8-9)

• 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)

• Have you put your trust in Christ? (Romans 10:9-10)

• With all your heart, do you intend to walk with Christ all of your life? (Colossians 1:10)

No. Baptism does not impart God’s grace or save anyone from their sins. Rather, it is an obedient response to being saved through faith, and it is a symbol of how the person has died to sin and been made alive in Christ (Romans 6:11).

Baptism is a concrete way for believers to demonstrate their obedience to Jesus’ command to profess faith in Him publicly (Matthew 10:32; 28:18-20).

As a person is immersed in water, he or she is proclaiming: “I believe in Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection; I am trusting in Him alone for my salvation; and I belong to His body, the Church” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 4:12).

Baptism is also a proclamation and illustration of the gospel to nonbelievers, as well as an invitation for them to come to faith in Christ.

At our church, water baptism looks like this:

• During Service: A Pastor will first explain the meaning of baptism to the church. Then, each person is baptized one at a time by a pastor, family member, or friend, who briefly lowers them into the water and lifts them back up. Worship resumes once all baptisms conclude.

• Afterward: After being helped out of the baptismal, you will be handed a towel and taken aside by the prayer team for a moment of prayer. You are then free to use a restroom to change, leaving your towel in the hamper provided.

• Commemoration: Be sure to get a photo at our Baptism booth to remember the special day you made this important decision.

At Renovation, we believe baptism is for believers who have consciously decided to be baptized. We believe baptism is an outward sign of new life given to an individual who has trusted in Christ for salvation (Romans 6:1-14; Matthew 28:19-20)

If you have been baptized as an infant, we would strongly encourage you to be baptized as a believer.

We baptize by immersion, which we believe best symbolizes death, burial, and resurrection, and is the way baptism was demonstrated by Jesus and the Apostles (Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38-39).

Water Baptism is proclaiming Jesus as the leader of your life and a moment for others to see a picture of the freedom and joy that Jesus offers.

It’s a public celebration of an internal change.

Baptism a ‘Next Step’ in your faith and pursuit of Knowing God as well as "thank you" to God for the gift of salvation.

• Say this: “Baptism is a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for us. When a person goes under the water and comes back up, it’s like being buried and then raised to life - like Jesus did! It tells the world that the "old, sinful you" is gone and you have a brand-new life IN Jesus. It doesn’t save us. It shows that we have been saved.

• Read this together: Romans 6:3-4.

• Say this: “Here’s an example… Think about a pickle! A cucumber becomes a pickle by staying in vinegar until it changes completely. When we are "baptized" into Jesus, we are saying we want to stay so close to Him that His character becomes our character. We want His "flavor" to be ours! When we’re baptized, we’re kind of like a pickle too - a brand new creation.. IN Christ!”

• Ask your child: Why are you excited to show everyone that you belong to Jesus?

Leading these conversations can feel big, and you don’t have to do it alone. If you would like to schedule a phone call or meet with a pastor to talk through how to lead your child, fill out this form. We are here to help & resource you!

We celebrate baptisms the first Sunday of every month. Ready to be baptized? Tap a button or upcoming baptism registration below to get started!