1. It is the Believer’s First Public Act of Faith

Baptism always appears alongside belief in Christ (Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38-41, 8:12-13, 9:18, 10:47-48, 16:33, 18:18, 19:3-5, 22:16) When someone came to faith in Christ, they were always baptized by water unless it was physically impossible to do so (Lk 23:42-43, Ac 8:36-38). This is why Bedford Road does not require classes or any kind of special rules for baptism. If you have put your faith in Christ, you should be baptized as a public declaration of your faith.

2. It Perfectly Pictures Your New Life in Christ

In John’s writings in particular, Jesus water appears as a symbol of life, especially spiritual life (Mk 1:8; Jn 3:5-8, 4:13; Rev 21:6, 22:1). The Apostle Paul taught baptism represented our passage from the death of sin in to life in Christ (Rom 6:1-11). This is why we continue to baptize by full immersion. This mode of baptism demonstrates this picture of our death, burial with Christ and resurrection to new life. Just as you are completely in Christ, you are completely immersed in the water.

3. It Unites Us Together in Christ

There is only one true baptism and that is in Jesus Christ (Eph 4:5). Human rivalries and differences dissolve in the presence of Christ, and the church is meant to be united by our identification with Christ (1 Co 1:10-17). As followers of Christ, baptism is a reminder of who we are in Christ and why we have come together. Every believer can look back on the day when he/she chose to follow Christ and obeyed his command to be baptized (Mt 28:18-20) as an important guidepost in his/her journey with Christ.

If you would like to be baptized, see Pastor Erik after the worship gathering. He will provide you with the practical instructions (what to bring, what time to arrive, etc.)