WATER BAPTISM

Why should I consider getting baptised?

1. It’s what Jesus showed us as our next step:
In order to understand the reason for being water baptised, it is important to carefully consider what the Bible says about it… Jesus himself was baptised. He was not a sinner, yet he humbled himself in obedience to identify with us and give us an example to follow.  Check out Mark 1:9

2. It’s a way we can obey what Jesus teaches us:
Water baptism is an act of faith and obedience to the commands of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20)

3. It’s how we make our decision public:
Baptism declares that you are a follower of Jesus. It is a public confession of your faith in, and commitment to, Jesus. It is the next step after making a decision to follow Jesus and is an important foundation for your journey of faith.

Who should be baptised?

Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ. 
“Those who accepted his message were baptised….” Acts 2:41.

We believe in baptising children when they are old enough to understand what it means and make a personal declaration of belief. (The age of 12 years old is sometimes a good benchmark.)

How are we to be baptised?

As per the example of Jesus – by being immersed in water. The word “baptise” comes from the Greek word “baptizo” which means “to immerse or dip under water”. Matthew 3:16

At Curate Church, before we baptise people in water, we always stand and read the Apostle’s Creed together, which is a statement of faith which churches have believed from the very beginning of the church. You can read the Apostle’s Creed below.

  • I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

    On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.

    I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

    Amen.

What is the meaning and significance of baptism?

Baptism is a symbol of Jesus burial and resurrection (when he came back to life!). When we go under the water during baptism we identify with Jesus death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead.

“Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection... Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross.” Colossians 2:12-14 MSG

We bury the ‘old life’ and we rise to walk in a ‘new life’. Baptism is like a wedding ring, it is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart, a commitment that has to be followed through and lived out on a daily basis.  

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4