Water Baptism Expression of Interest

What is water baptism?

Water Baptism is an opportunity of commitment for us as believers. It is far from a ritual or religious exercise but rather, it is an external expression of an internal life change and an inward faith in Jesus Christ. It signifies the death and burial of our old life and the resurrection as a new creation in Christ and the new life we now live.

Why do I need to be water baptised?

We should follow Jesus’ example. Jesus himself was baptised which tells us this is a significant part of our Christian life. It is a step on our journey of growth in our decision to follow Jesus.

Baptism also declares to the world that we are believers in Christ, it is a public confession of our faith in Jesus. It’s our next step after salvation and is an important part of the foundation of our Christian life.

Where does the bible talk about water baptism?

Romans 6:4 “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 3:16 “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settled on Him.”

How can I be water baptised?

Jesus was baptised by being immersed in water. The word "baptise" means "to immerse or dip under water". In our church, we hold water baptisms in a small pool or body of water. This is a public declaration and a real celebration moment in our church. It is often a great opportunity to invite family and friends to share the moment with you.

How do I know I am (or my kids are) ready for baptism?

If you believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour, then you can be baptised. It is a powerful moment where you declare that He is the centre of your life. We encourage you to speak with a trusted leader or parent as this will help in your understanding of what baptism is and why it is so powerful. There is no other qualifier.

Some parents wonder when they can baptise their children. We don’t have an age qualifier, rather a readiness and understanding of what they are doing. In every case, the parents need to be aware and supportive of the child being baptised.

If you have any more questions, please speak with your Connect Group leader, Ministry Leader, or Campus Pastor.

If you believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour, and have made a commitment in your heart to follow Him, then you can be baptised. 

A question parents commonly ask is “How do you know if your child is ready for baptism?”

If your child wants to get baptised, a great way to find out if they are ready is to talk to your kids about baptism and ask questions. 

Baptism comes after salvation, so start with a conversation about salvation. For information on how to talk to your kids about salvation, please refer to our resource “How To Talk To Your Kids About Salvation”. 

If your child has already asked Jesus into his life, you can explain what baptism is and what it means. 

Here are some suggestions on what you can talk about and places you can point to in their Bible:

• Now that you’ve committed to following Jesus, you need to let others know by getting baptised. (Mark 16:16)

• Baptism takes place in the water. It’s a picture of what Jesus did when He took the punishment for your sins. When you go under the water, it shows people that you believe Jesus died for you. When you come out of the water, you show others that you believe God brought Jesus back to life. (Romans 6:4)

• Getting saved and then baptised doesn’t mean your life will be perfect. There will be times when you will sin and make wrong choices. When this happens, pray and ask Jesus to forgive you. Jesus took the punishment for all our sin. That means even though you will sin again, you don’t need to be saved or baptised again. (1 Peter 3:18)

• You can continue following Jesus day by day by reading the Bible, doing what Jesus says and praying every day. (Psalm 1:2)

• Kids are naturally curious. Commit to answering every question, no matter how silly they may seem, and let your child ask lots of questions.

• Remember, walking with Jesus is not a race. Baptism is the first step after salvation for everyone; kids included! It's possible that your child might not be ready, and that’s OK! It's always better to wait than to pressure children to take a step they don't understand or aren’t ready to take.