What is Baptism About?

When two Bs get together what happens? Bread and Butter, Bed and Breakfast and Believing and Baptism. Acts 18:8 in the Bible says those that heard the gospel and believed it were baptized.  Sometimes people say:
"Well I believe in Christ, but I will not get baptized"
In Biblical thought though, those that believe will be baptized!  So what is baptism?  Baptism comes from a word that means to immerse in water.  In Matthew 3:13 Jesus himself turns up at a baptism service at the river Jordon and asks to be baptized.  The person most surprised by this is John the baptizer, no says John, you should be baptizing me. Imagine that, Jesus shows up for baptism and is refused on the grounds that he is over qualified.  Jesus however, insists saying: "John you must allow this to happen, because this is the way to fulfill righteousness".  Jesus publicly endorses baptism by insisting that John baptize him.  Jesus himself was immersed in water and therefore sets the example for those who would be Christ followers.

There is a deeper significance to baptism, and that is written about in Romans 6:1-9.  The act of baptism is a sign that a person believes, but it is also a demonstration that someone is identifying with the death and resurrection of Christ.  In other words they are leaving the old life of sin behind and starting a new way of life known as being a Christian.  Baptisms are carried out by church ministers in Christian churches and those that are interested need to speak to a pastor or leader initially.

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/