Baptism is the biblical response of willfully surrendering ourselves to God through water immersion to join with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection into new life.
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Resources
Below are some resources to help you learn more about baptism.
Common Questions
What is baptism?
Baptism is the biblical response of willfully surrendering ourselves to God through water immersion to join with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection into new life. We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8) and baptism is the biblical expression of that faith and trust. It marks the beginning of new life in a follower of Jesus and their union with Christ (Matt 28:19, Romans 6:1–8, Titus 3:5).
The New Testament word for “baptism” is the Greek word baptizo, meaning “to immerse.”
Baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:1–5). It is more than a symbol, it is a God-ordained response of faith that marks the beginning of a new life. Baptism by any method other than immersion does not align with the biblical model. So at Calvary, we baptize by full immersion to align with the New Testament examples.
Who should be baptized?
Baptism is for all who are ready to repent and confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38–39). The New Testament presents baptism as a person’s individual decision to commit his or her life to God. Consequently, we believe that this must be a conscious choice of an individual and not one made for them by someone else. Therefore, individuals who were sprinkled as infants should be baptized by immersion to complete their commitment to Christ and to be faithful to the clear teaching of scripture.
A common question many have is, “What about baptizing children?” We believe that parents have the primary responsibility for their children’s spiritual development (Deut. 6:4–9). At Calvary, we seek to partner with families to help children take meaningful steps of faith. We believe that baptism should come from a child’s personal decision, not merely a parent’s desire.
Scripture sets no minimum age, so we do not either. Instead, we seek biblical readiness. We want children to be able to clearly explain what the gospel is, who Jesus is, and why they personally want to be baptized (Acts 8:37). This process involves prayerful discernment from both parents and ministry leaders to help ensure the child is making a genuine, informed commitment.
Why should I be baptized?
Baptism is the normative biblical response to Jesus’ offer of salvation through His sacrifice on the cross (Acts 2:41). It is a public expression of trust in Him (Acts 8:12–13), and is accompanied with the following gifts: the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), assurance of salvation (Mark 16:16), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). It testifies to God’s work in a believer’s life (Rom. 6:1–8) and appeals to God for a clean conscience (1 Peter 3:21). We are not saved by the act of baptism itself. However, Scripture teaches that baptism is the biblical moment where grace meets faith and salvation is received (Acts 22:16).
Professor Jon Weatherly of Johnson University summarizes the need for baptism this way: “Baptism signifies the sinner asking the Lord for the blessings of salvation, and the Lord responds by granting those blessings. Baptism is more than ‘an outward sign of an inward grace,’ or ‘an act of obedience,’ though it is at least those things. Baptism is the divinely authorized act by which the repentant sinner approaches God and in which God fulfills his promises to the repentant sinner.”
Should a person ever be re-baptized?
Any person who has trusted in Jesus as the only Son of God and who has willingly been immersed into Christ may become a member of Calvary Christian Church, whether the baptism occurred at Calvary or elsewhere. Re-baptism is available for those who lack confidence in their first baptism due to lack of understanding, coercion, or insincerity at the time. Those who have fallen into sin after being baptized should repent and seek forgiveness (Acts 8:13–24), but re-baptism is not necessary.
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