What is Baptism?We believe in obeying the instruction of the Lord Jesus to baptize believers with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. For baptism one must repent, turn to Christ in sincere faith, and accept Him as Lord. We regard water baptism as an ordinance of Christ which
symbolizes the baptism of the Holy Spirit, divine cleansing from sin and its guilt, identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and the commitment to follow Him in a life of faithful discipleship. Since baptism with the Holy Spirit is a pouring out, we generally practice pouring as our mode of water baptism. (Mennonite Confession of Faith) |
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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. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (Romans 6:4–7)
Scriptural teaching on Baptism may be summarized as follows:
- Baptism is a visible expression of surrender to Jesus Christ as savior.
- Baptism symbolizes the cleansing from the old, wrong way of living and identifies with a new, God- honoring lifestyle.
- Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death and resurrection.
- Baptism provides an opportunity for believers to make a formal profession of their faith before the church. Therefore, baptisms happen in a public setting so that the community of believers can see the difference Jesus makes in the believer’s life.
- Believer’s baptism is a prerequisite for joining the membership of the church.
“Scripture describes baptism for us as signifying that through faith and the blood of Christ our sins are washed away: to the one baptized that his inner self has been changed, and that he believes, both before and afterward. It signifies that one should be and is dead to sin, and walking in newness of life and spirit; also that he shall certainly be saved by the inward baptism (of the Holy Spirit).” ~Conrad Grebel (early Anabaptist)
Why be Baptized?
Jesus instructs His church to make disciples (believers), baptize them into the faith and teach them how to live the new, abundant life that He has promised.
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.” (Matthew 28:18–20)
Baptism is a symbol, not a mystical ritual that makes a person acceptable to God through some type of sacred water. The water symbolizes the work that Christ has done by cleansing the believer from sin through His blood and the renewing that the Holy Spirit has done inwardly.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
“Baptism is not a sacrament. Being baptized with water and having one’s name on the church membership list do not in themselves save. As human beings we are prone to make symbols into substitutes for reality. We tend to trust in anything but Christ and his gospel…Thus, we must remember that baptism is a symbol of a deeper reality.” ~J.C. Wenger (Mennonite Theologian)
When should someone be Baptized?A person should be baptized after they have trusted in Jesus for forgiveness of their sins. Jesus tells us to make disciples and baptize – in that order.
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“When a person has turned from sin to Christ and gives evidence in his life of being truly converted, he is then ready for water baptism. Baptism is not a graduation ceremony to be received just before dying. It is a ceremony to celebrate the entrance of a new convert into the divine kingdom. It is for those who are ‘walking in the resurrection’ as Michael Sattler said in 1527.” ~ J.C. Wenger
Since the purpose of Baptism is to publicly identify a believer in Jesus Christ, some people may be asking , “What was the significance of my Baptism as a baby?” In the Bible, we find parents bringing their children to
Jesus. He held them and prayed for them and told us to welcome them. But He did not baptize them, and He did not tell anyone else to baptize them. Baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation.
If you were baptized as a child, it was the intent of your parents that you would one day be a follower of Christ. Your Baptism as an adult can be viewed as the fulfillment of your parents’ hope. It in no way rejects the Baptism you received as a child. We encourage you to be baptized again if you were baptized as an infant or at any time before you trusted in Jesus for forgiveness of your sins.
Since we want to be sure that a person being baptized fully understands their decision, we discourage the baptism of very young children.
Jesus. He held them and prayed for them and told us to welcome them. But He did not baptize them, and He did not tell anyone else to baptize them. Baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation.
If you were baptized as a child, it was the intent of your parents that you would one day be a follower of Christ. Your Baptism as an adult can be viewed as the fulfillment of your parents’ hope. It in no way rejects the Baptism you received as a child. We encourage you to be baptized again if you were baptized as an infant or at any time before you trusted in Jesus for forgiveness of your sins.
Since we want to be sure that a person being baptized fully understands their decision, we discourage the baptism of very young children.
“And although infants have neither faith nor baptism, think not that they are therefore damned. Oh, no! they are saved; for we have the Lord’s own promise of the kingdom of God; not through any elements, ceremonies, and external rites, but solely by grace through Christ Jesus. And therefore we believe that they are in a state of grace, pleasing to God, pure, holy, heirs of God and of eternal life.” ~Menno Simons