As You Consider Baptism>>

What We Believe About Baptism 
 

Who Should Be Baptized

Christians believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, salvation occurs only when a person places his or her faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as the sufficient payment for his or her sin.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are ready to be baptized. Your baptism is an outward expression of your obedience and your opportunity to show others that you have accepted Christ and are now walking with Him.

If you have any questions about how to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, please click here.

What Baptism Symbolizes

Baptism is a way of showing others that you have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It symbolizes what took place in your heart at the time of salvation:

• Accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
• Shared in His death and resurrection, illustrated by going under the water (dead to your old life), then rising again (new life).
• Were symbolically washed clean and sins were forgiven by His death on the cross.

Because Jesus instructed us to be baptized, baptism is an act of obedience. While it is not necessary for salvation, it demonstrates submission to God. We immerse at Lakewood because we believe Scripture shows that Jesus modeled that for us as the way to publicly acknowledge our faith in Him.

Infant Christening

Some denominations choose to christen infants. While we recognize the right of other churches to practice infant christening, we understand Scripture to teach that only professing believers qualify for baptism. Baptism does not make you a believer; rather it shows that you already believe.