What Baptism Is

1. It’s a Command

Baptism is not merely a tradition; it’s a direct command from Jesus Christ. He said:

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
— Matthew 28:19, CSB

For every person who has trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior, baptism is a step of obedience. It’s the first outward response to the inward change Jesus brings. We don’t do it to earn salvation; we do it because we’ve been saved.

“If you love me, you will keep my commands.”
— John 14:15, CSB

2. It’s a Sign

Baptism is a public declaration of a private transformation. Going under the water symbolizes the death and burial of Jesus. Rising from the water represents His resurrection and our new life in Him. This pictures the Gospel. 

“Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”
— Romans 6:4, CSB

3. It’s a Celebration

Baptism is not just a ritual, it’s a joyful celebration of new life! When someone is baptized, the whole church rejoices, because we see the gospel at work.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17, CSB

What Baptism Is Not

1. It’s Not Necessary for Salvation

Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. Baptism is not a means of salvation, but a response to it.

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8–9, CSB

Baptism is an outward sign of what God has already done inside a believer’s heart.

2. It’s Not for Perfect People

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you get baptized. You don’t have to be perfect, just surrender. The only qualification is that you’ve trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” …. Right away he and all his family were baptized.
— Acts 16:31, 33, CSB

We believe that spiritual growth happens one step at a time. Baptism is one of those early, but important steps.

3. It Doesn’t Add to Your Salvation

Baptism doesn’t make you more saved or more loved by God. It’s a response, not a requirement for salvation. It is an act of love and obedience, proclaiming your faith publicly.

“He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy…”
— Titus 3:5a, CSB

Who Should Be Baptized?

At FCC, we practice believer’s baptism. This means we baptize people after they’ve personally decided to trust Jesus as their Savior. In the New Testament, baptism always followed repentance and faith:

“So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.”
— Acts 2:41, CSB

If you’ve made a personal decision to trust Jesus as Savior, then baptism is your next step.

Why Should Someone Be Baptized?

There are three reasons to be baptized:

• To obey the command of Jesus

• To follow the example of Jesus

• To declare your identity as a follower of Jesus

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.”
— Matthew 3:13, CSB

Baptism is both a responsibility and a privilege. It’s a personal proclamation and a celebration. It’s an opportunity to publicly declare that you have decided to trust Jesus as Savior.

I’ve Been Baptized Before, Should I Do It Again?

If your previous baptism happened before you trusted Jesus as your Savior, such as being baptized as an infant or before understanding the gospel, we believe it’s important to be baptized after your personal decision to follow Christ.

“But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.”
— Acts 8:12, CSB

In that case, your next step isn’t re-baptism, it’s real baptism in response to your real faith.

How Does FCC Baptize?

The word “baptize” comes from the Greek word baptizō, meaning to immerse or submerge. This is how Jesus was baptized and how the early church practiced it.

“When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water…”
— Matthew 3:16a, CSB

We baptize by full immersion because it most clearly represents the gospel message: death, burial, and resurrection.

And when someone takes this step, the entire church celebrates, because God is doing something new in someone’s life.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BAPTISM? CHECK OUT THIS LINK.