First Baptist Church Eureka
Gather. Grow. Give, Go.
Baptism 101
So you have decided to get baptized! You might have a lot of questions about baptism, such as “What should I wear?”, “What do I need to bring?” as well as other questions. Below are listed some of the most frequently asked questions with some of our answers! Feel free to call the church office if you have more questions and/or want to sit down and talk.
What is baptism?
The first story we read in the gospels about Jesus as an adult is his baptism (Matt 3; Mark 1). The last thing Jesus said to His disciples was that they should go throughout the world making disciples and baptizing them (Matt. 28:19-20). Baptism is a very important activity in the New Testament.
Baptism is a subject Christians do not all agree on. At FBC Eureka, we view it as one of two commands; Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Communion). We are committed to being faithful to the Bible and faithful to what the church has done historically. Here is how we would answer some of the most frequently asked questions about baptism:
Why should I be baptized?
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You do not need to be baptized to be “saved.” The New Testament teaches a person is “saved” by having faith and trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation.
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The Bible teaches baptism is a way Christians are reminded they have been united with Christ’s death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5).
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Baptism is a public profession of your faith because baptisms are often done before a group of people who witness your confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism is not the only way we profess to be a follower of Jesus, but it is an important one.
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Baptism symbolizes your cleaning from sin. Throughout the New Testament, it indicates a person has “repented” and turned away from sin. The apostles often referred to believers as being washed from sin. Peter stated the water in baptism symbolized not the cleansing of the body from dirt, but the cleaning of the conscience as an appeal to God (1 Pet. 3:21).
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Baptism symbolizes your union with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. When you become a Christian, you die to sin and your old way of life and you begin a new life. Romans 6:8 states, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” The act of baptism (being immersed in the water and coming up out of the water) is a picture of what happens to you spiritually.
How should I be baptized?
FBC Eureka believes people should be baptized by immersion (as referenced in Scripture) as opposed to sprinkling or pouring. The word “baptize” (from the Greek word baptizo) literally means “to immerse.” This was how people in the Bible were baptized. Immersion best symbolizes what happens spiritually when you become a Christian.
When should I be baptized?
You should be baptized once you have personally trusted Jesus Christ for salvation and become a Christ follower. Remember, you are not baptized in order to “saved.” You are baptized because you are a follower of Jesus. Being baptized is a way to publicly express your faith in Jesus!
What if I was baptized as an infant?
Orthodox Christians (Episcopal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic) have different perspectives on infant baptism and perform infant baptisms. Protestant Christians (Baptists, Pentecostals, others) do not perform infant baptism. How should you view your baptism if you were baptized as an infant?
We believe, at FBC Eureka, the Bible teaches baptism is an action that follows conversion. This is considered “believer’s baptism” where a conscience and cognitive decision has been made to be baptized on the part of the Christ follower. If you have not been baptized since you made a decision for Christ, we would recommend you consider being baptized.
Should I be re-baptized if I was baptized at another church?
As long as you were “born-again” Christ follower when you were baptized, and the other church was a Protestant Christian church, it is not necessary to be re-baptized.
Can children be baptized?
Yes, if they understand what they are doing. FBC Eureka recommends they wait until they can make a personal profession of faith on their own. We believe a young child can be saved, but the older a child is, the more they will understand and the more meaningful baptism will be for them.
We do not baptize infants as some denominations do. Instead, we dedicate infants to the Lord and call parents to commit themselves to raise their children for Christ. We do this based on the set forth in Scripture of infants being dedicated to the Lord: [Samuel in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 1:21-29); Jesus in the New Testament (Luke 2:21-24)].
What is next if I want to be baptized at FBC Eureka?
Call the church office and make an appointment to talk to the pastor. He would love to sit down with you and talk about your relationship with Jesus.
What should I wear?
Shorts and a t-shirt are the most common clothes people wear when they get baptized. Remember: water makes white t-shirts “see through,” so wear a dark shirt! Whatever you are comfortable wearing is fine as long as it is not going to make the pastor uncomfortable. Don’t forget to bring a towel!