Believe and be baptizeD

You are probably more ready than you realize! However, the first step is knowing you have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Even if that relationship just started today!

One of our favorite examples is is found in Chapter 16 of the book of Acts. To set the stage, there was a Jailer who asked two of his prisoners, Paul and Silas, a desperate question:

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Here’s what happened next…

“They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”

— Acts 16:25-40

Did you see the progression there? The Jailer (And his whole household!) believed and were immediately baptized.

No waiting around, no trying to be good enough. Just believe and be baptized.

The purpose of baptism is to publicly identify a new believer in Jesus Christ. The question may be asked, “Why are so many people baptized as babies?” In the Bible, we find parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them, prayed for them, and told his disciples to welcome them, but he did not baptize them, and he did not tell anyone else to baptize them. Baptism is appropriate only for those who have made a personal decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation.

If you were baptized as a child, it was no doubt 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’ wishes. It in no way repudiates the baptism you received as a child.

Baptism as an adult does not need to be repeated multiple times. Baptism is an outward sign of inward salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Salvation is by grace (the gift of Jesus God gives you) through faith (you believing and trusting Jesus’ work on the cross, which pays in full the price and consequence of sin once and for all. He exchanges your sin and guilt for His righteousness). When you receive this gift of salvation, you are justified - restored to God through Jesus - and you are sealed with the Holy Spirit that adopts you into the family of God. This is a one-time justification - being forgiven and made right through Jesus’ work on the cross.

Baptism is an outward and public sign of this one-time salvation reality. It is to publicly identify a new believer in Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:4 says, “We were therefore buried with him [Jesus] 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.”

This outward and public sign in community is you declaring when you go down into the water, your sin was taken and buried with Christ. When you come up out of the water, it is a sign of your new and eternal life in Christ.

Baptism is an outward sign of inward salvation. So baptism as a saved adult is not something to be repeated multiple times.

As you grow as a Christian, you will have seasons of life where you may say or feel, ‘If I knew then what I know now’ or ‘I’ve never felt what I feel now’ or ‘I was baptized in that denomination or with that church now I want to at Plum Creek’ or ‘I just want a fresh start again.’ These are to be celebrated changes, but another baptism isn’t necessary.

A simple illustration of baptism can be marriage. A husband and wife grow in their relationship to new levels of love yet don’t get remarried to one another repeatedly as they do. So baptism marks your initial acceptance of the gift of God’s grace given to you through Jesus. Though you will continue to grow and experience new levels of closeness with Him (and even mess up and ask for forgiveness too), there is no need to be baptized again.

The leadership of Plum Creek Church recommends that children be, at least, in 2nd Grade to be baptized.

This recommendation is founded on Proverbs 20:25 which issues a significant caution against the danger of making a vow before adequate knowledge, forethought, and reflection have been given.

If your child is in 2nd Grade or above and is considering getting baptized, we would love to invite you to our Creek Kids Baptism Workshop!

In Romans 6:1-11, the Apostle Paul explains how the immersion mode of baptism identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Going underwater symbolizes Christ’s death. Coming out of the water illustrates his resurrection. Because of this, we hold to baptism by immersion but will sprinkle those with physical disabilities or those who have a psychological reason for not being immersed. It is important to understand that the value of the sacrament of baptism is in the life and heart of the believer, not in the amount of water used.

A pastor at Plum Creek will do the baptizing. However, if there is someone in your life who has already been baptized that you would like to be baptized by, that is perfectly fine.

The New Testament records the baptisms of adults who are believers but never of children. Baptism can’t give a person anything, spiritually speaking. It can only signify something that has already happened. Therefore, Plum Creek Church recommends only those that have reached at least 2nd grade and profess to follow Christ be baptized.

We do, however, encourage Christian parents to present their children for the ceremony of dedication, whereby God’s blessing is formally invoked upon the children. The parents, family, and church body are given the opportunity to publicly commit themselves to raising the children in accordance with the teachings of Scripture.

If you have any questions about Child Dedication, follow this link to learn more.

People are invited to wear their own shorts and Plum Creek will provide a t-shirt to everyone participating in baptism.

If you have come to a point in your life where you have decided to follow Christ in everything you do, whether 15 minutes ago, a week ago, or 20 years ago, baptism is the next step of obedience for you to take. Going public with your faith through baptism is a powerful, biblical response to your faith in Jesus.

Upon registration, a member of the Plum Creek Church Staff will reach out to you to acknowledge and celebrate your decision. They will also give you the necessary details about your baptism.