Baptism is something Christians have been doing for thousands of years to symbolize their faith in Christ. It is a public declaration of a new association.
When you trust Jesus as your Saviour, you begin to understand and experience more of the love God has for you. Gradually, over time, God's love changes you as you follow Jesus. You change because you are loved, not in order to be loved.
Through His death on the cross, and then coming back from the dead, Jesus took all of your wrong and gave you all of His right.
If you believe that and commit to following Him, your life will never be the same. It’s as simple as repenting of your sin, declaring you want to follow Jesus, and believing He is who He says He is.
Once you have decided to follow Jesus - being baptized is a great next step to publicly declare your faith in him, as well as symbolize the death of your old life and entry into new life.
Already baptized and interested in membership at Bromley?
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Why Should I be Baptized?
As Christ followers, we get baptized because Jesus commands us to do so. In Matthew, 28:19-20, Jesus said this to his followers: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus also set the example by being baptized Himself (Matthew 3:15, Mark 1:9-10).
Baptism isn’t about being perfect or having our whole life together, it’s about a step of obedience to Jesus that shows we believe in and follow Him. Because Jesus went public about His love for us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptized shows that we turn away from a life of sin and we turn toward Jesus, the only one who can change us (Acts 2:38-41).
What is the Significance of Baptism?
It’s a move from Death to Life
Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead.
In Romans 6:3-4, the apostle Paul writes "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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."
It’s a Sign of New Life
Baptism is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. We bury the ‘old life’ and we rise to walk in a ‘new life’. Baptism is like a wedding ring, it is the outward symbol of the commitment you’ve made in your heart, a commitment that has to be followed through and lived out on a daily basis.
Why do we Baptize by Immersing People in Water?
The word “baptize” means “to dip or immerse, to plunge beneath”. All baptisms in the Bible were by immersion, and Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the water and rising out of it (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10). Being submersed in the water represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus gave us a fresh start in life (Romans 6: 3-5)! It’s a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done for us, and a reminder of His own death and resurrection.
When Should I be Baptized?
Baptism is one of the first significant acts of obedience to Jesus in the life of a new believer. It is a wonderful opportunity to proclaim our faith in Christ and to express our commitment to live in obedience to God's Word.
For everyone who decides to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step. Anyone who commits his or her life to following Jesus is ready to be baptized.
In Romans 10, Paul writes: "…if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Do You Baptize Children?
As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but they are the ones who will ultimately decide if they will make their faith their own and commit their lives to Him.
At Bromley, we celebrate believer’s baptism. It is our desire that your children will express their own decision to follow Jesus and to truly understand the meaning of baptism.
If your child is interested in baptism, they are welcome to take that step. Please contact Pastor Rob to discuss this exciting and important step in their spiritual journey!
I was Baptized as a Baby, Should I be Baptized as an Adult?
If you were baptized as a child, it means your parents had a desire to see you grow up to follow Jesus with your life. We think that’s great. Now we would invite you to take the next step of baptism by immersion and make that faith your own personal choice. Even if you’ve been following Jesus for years, but haven’t been baptized by immersion, we think it’s an important step for you.
If you have been baptized by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, there is no need to be baptized again. However, if you’ve never been baptized as an adult after personally choosing to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we invite you to take your next step of being baptized.
I would like to be Baptized. What Should I do?
Baptism is such an exciting faith step and we’re so glad that you’re considering it. If you’d like to continue exploring baptism, please fill out the form below to let us know. Someone will reach out to you to discuss next steps which includes a baptism class (where you’ll get to ask questions and talk more about the significance and meaning of baptism).
Our next baptism class will be taking place on Sunday, February 18 and 25 following the morning service. If you’re interested in joining us, please complete the form below or join us on February 18. Thanks!