The very first story we read in the gospels about Jesus’ ministry is His baptism. The very last thing He said to His disciples before ascending into heaven was that they should go throughout the world making disciples and baptizing them.The inspired record of the early church in Acts and the story of church history through the ages indicate that water baptism is a very important activity in the New Testament and the church.

Regrettably, water baptism is a subject that Christians don’t all agree upon.  At LIFE Foursquare Church, while we believe that baptism is important, we allow for some room for disagreement between sincere believers.  Our beliefs and practices reflect a diligent effort to be faithful to the Bible and Protestant church history.  Here is how we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about water baptism.

When should I be baptized?

You should be baptized as soon as possible after you have personally trusted Jesus Christ for salvation and been born again.  However, remember that you are not baptized in order to become a Christian.  Rather you are baptized because you are a Christian.

How should I be water baptized?

We baptize by immersion (as opposed to sprinkling or pouring) because we believe it most clearly fulfills the biblical form.The term “baptize” literally means “to immerse or plunge”.  In addition, going under water best represents what happens when you become a Christian.

While the immersion mode of baptism best illustrates the work of Christ, the Bible does not mandate how much water should be used.  Therefore, we would not argue with those who believe they have a valid baptism in another form.  We will always baptize by immersion unless there are other extreme circumstances that would compel us otherwise (physical handicap, sickness, etc.).

Should I be baptized again?

If you were born-again when you were first baptized, and the other church where you were baptized was a true Christian church, then you need not be rebaptized.  If, however, your baptism was merely a religious ritual conducted before you had a personal relationship with Jesus,  then we would encourage you to be validly water baptized for the first time.

Can my children be baptized?

Certainly, as long as they thoroughly understand what they are doing.  We do require that you wait until your children are at least 6 years old (preferably older) so they can make an intelligent and believable profession of faith that is their own.  We believe that a younger child can be saved, but the older a child is, the more they will understand and the more meaningful baptism will be for them.  Remember that children do not need to be baptized in order to be Christians.

How can I get water baptized?

We currently hold all-church water baptisms in the Worship Center four times a year during the 10am service on the designated weekends.  These events are wonderful celebrations and will be announced several weeks in advance in the church bulletin and on the website.   We ask all candidates for baptism to attend a one-hour baptism class prior to the service.  To find out more about the next Water Baptism service, please contact the church office or fill out a connection card and drop it in the offering.

Why should I be water baptized?

1. You should be water baptized in order to be obedient to Jesus Christ.  We are commanded to be baptized as one of our first acts of surrender to Jesus. Baptism should be an urgent priority for the disciples of Jesus. While you do not need to be baptized to be saved, water baptism is an outward work of obedience to Jesus Christ after a person’s decision to repent and trust him for salvation.

2. You should be water baptized in order to publicly profess your faith.  Baptism is the initial means by which disciples of Jesus Christ are identified.  It provides an opportunity for believers to make a formal profession of their faith before the church and provides a wonderful opportunity to invite friends and family to witness their confessions of changed lives.

3. You should be water baptized in order to symbolize your cleansing from sin.  Throughout the New Testament, baptism indicates that a person has “repented” or “turned away” from sin, selfishness, and living independently from God.  The writings of the apostles often refer to the fact that disciples of Jesus were “washed from their sin”.  Peter writes that the waters of baptism symbolize the inward spiritual reality of the cleansing of our conscience, not the cleansing of our body from dirt.