Baptism

This brief note explains why:

• The example of Jesus: Matthew 3:13-17
• The command of Jesus: Matthew 28:19
• The command of the apostles: Acts 2:38
• The example of the early church: Acts 2:41, Acts 8:36-39, Acts 9:18, Acts 10:47, Acts 16:25-34

What does baptism mean?

The word ‘baptise’ means to immerse, to dip, to plunge (when something is baptised, it is lowered under the water before emerging again). Baptism was a Jewish ritual washing, but in the New Testament it is a symbol of cleansing from sin (Acts 22:16). Passing through the water symbolises the removal of our sin by Jesus’ death on our behalf.

In the New Testament this action is also seen as a symbol of our dying with Christ and being raised again to a new life (Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:10-12).

Christians have known a death and a re-birth. The old life has died and been buried; there is new life now. The apostle Paul teaches that our dying, burial and new life all take place in union with Jesus’ own death, burial and rising again. This is symbolised by baptism. It demonstrates what has taken place in our experience. It shows that we are united with Jesus and have left our old life behind.
Baptism is also a symbol of identification with Christ and his church (Ephesians 4:4-6).

How should we be baptised?

Christian churches have different views about this. Some say that pouring water over the head is sufficient. There are biblical reasons for encouraging full immersion (though exceptions can be made, e.g. for medical reasons):

• When John the Baptist baptised, it appears that he took people down into the river and that he emerged out of the river (Mark 1:5, Mark 1:10).
• John chose to baptise in a place where there was plenty of water (John 3:23).
• Other biblical instances of baptism suggest full immersion (e.g. Acts 8:36-39).
• The symbol of union with Christ in his death, burial and integration (Romans 6) is only present in full immersion.

Who should be baptised?

Again, amongst Christian churches there are different views. Some baptise babies of believers based on the Old Testament practice of circumcision, or on the view that infants can be baptised into the Christian community, where they can learn to become believers. However, the New Testament doesn’t make this connection with the children of believers; when it does connect circumcision and baptism it assumes that those being baptised have already experienced inner spiritual conversion and have themselves asked to be baptised (Colossians 2:11-12, Philippians 3:3).

In the New Testament there is no clear example of babies being baptised. The so-called ‘household baptisms’ in Acts indicate some kind of active response on behalf of all involved (e.g. Acts 16:33-34). Additionally, the New Testament gives a clear instruction to ‘believe and be baptised’, which would indicate the active decision of the individual (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38).

For these reasons we at CBC baptise only those who can profess faith in Jesus for themselves. This can include children and teenagers, but in these cases we would do so only with parental permission and after taking time to carefully and sensitively investigate the motivation for requesting baptism.

What does baptism do?

It is important to realise that there is nothing ‘magical’ about baptism. It is richly symbolic, it is deeply personal and important, but the act itself contains no special power, and nor is there anything special or ‘holy’ about the water. When we are baptised, we are openly declaring, to God, to the church, to our family and friends and to the world, that we belong to Jesus. We state that we have decided to follow him, that we have died to our old life and started a new life with Jesus. It’s an exciting and important declaration and – because it is also an act of obedience to God – it helps us in our relationship with the Lord and encourages us in our faith.

Baptism at Caterham Baptist Church

At CBC we are delighted to baptise new believers, and other Christians who for whatever reason have not previously been baptised as believers. Please contact one of the elders to discuss this and to share your personal journey of faith, including what difference it makes to your life.

We do not judge whether your faith is genuine (only you know that), but we have a duty of care to you to ensure that you have a clear understanding of what you are doing. We baptise people in good faith that their lives are being lived under Christ’s lordship, and that there is no ongoing sin in that person’s life that would discredit the witness of the testimony. (This does not mean that the applicant has to be already perfect before they can be baptised – we are all ‘works in progress’ and rely on God to make us better people over time.) In this conversation we will also discuss and encourage you to join the formal membership of the church (see separate document). We will then share a summary of your request with the existing church members, before arranging a date for your baptism at a convenient church service, to which we encourage you to invite friends and family. We also encourage you to share your journey of faith (sometimes called a ‘testimony’) at the service, though this is not compulsory.

If you would like to talk further about baptism, please have a word with the pastor or another elder. Alternatively, use our contact page or fill out one of our welcome cards.