The Meaning of water baptism and sign up
Thank you for your interest in water baptism at Wyandotte Family Church! We hope this page will give you a clearer understanding of what water baptism is and how we do baptism at Wyandotte Family Church. We recognize that other churches may have slightly different views on the particulars of water baptism while maintaining the belief that we are all united under the Lordship of Jesus. For clarity, at Wyandotte Family, we practice "believer's baptism." Here is what that means.
Wyandotte Family Church baptizes those who believe in Jesus' resurrection and proclaim His Lordship over their lives by full immersion in water. Baptism is a meaningful and public expression of your faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's a special way to identify with Jesus and show your willingness to entrust every part of your life to His Lordship and care.
- Baptism is a sign that points beyond the physical act of immersing oneself in water to one’s belief in and commitment to the good news of Jesus. As Jesus died and rose again, we are called to identify with Him in His death and resurrection by symbolically dying and resurrecting with Him. Immersion in water is symbolic of being buried in the grave. Coming back up out of the water symbolizes one’s new life in Christ Jesus, and prophetically foreshadows the future resurrection that will occur when Jesus returns at the end of the age.
Romans 6:3-5 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Colossians 2:12 Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
- Baptism is also an act of obedience to the commands of Jesus; some people consider it to be a person’s first act of obedience as they confess Jesus’ lordship over their lives. It is this confession by faith that brings someone into this unique relationship with Jesus. Baptism makes this confession public, though of itself does not bring you into a relationship with Jesus.
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
- Baptism serves as an initiation into the family of Jesus. Our participation in baptism unites us with other followers of Jesus who have also been baptized. As followers of Christ, we are called to fully participate in the community, or family of Christ. We are united by our unified commitment to Jesus’ lordship, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and our shared experience of water baptism, communion, and life in general. Not only does the individual confess Christ publicly, but by baptizing the individual, the church community affirms the genuineness of that confession.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews and Greeks, slaves or free.
Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
FOR FURTHER STUDY ON BAPTISM
If you are interested in further study on water baptism in the New Testament, here are several Scriptures that refer to water baptism. We encourage you to read and study them.