WATER BAPTISM

An outward expression of your personal declaration that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior.

Water baptism is the public expression of your personal decision to follow Jesus. It imitates Christ’s lowering into the grave and rising again leaving the sin of the world as a new creation. Our water baptism is an expression of the very same thing, a new birth into a new life in Jesus.

SIGN UP TO BE BAPTIZED

The Bible teaches that we should be baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

We believe in water baptism because Jesus himself modeled it for us. In the book of Luke it says, “When all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized too. As he was praying, heaven was opened.” Luke 3:21

  • Baptism is an outward confession of an inward decision.
  • Baptism is a command. Everyone who confesses Christ should be baptized.
  • Baptism comes from the word “baptize” which means to immerse.
  • Baptism represents a burial of the old way of life and mindset.
  • Baptism is not a prerequisite to salvation.
  • Baptism doesn’t get you to heaven…it announces to your friends you are headed to heaven.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38

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.
Romans 6:4

FREQUENTLY ASKED

I HAVE ALREADY BEEN BAPTIZED. SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED AGAIN?

Your baptism should have signified you becoming a follower of Jesus, beginning a changed life, and uniting with a new family. If your baptism did not reflect this change of life, then you should be baptized again.

CAN MY CHILD BE BAPTIZED?

We will baptize anyone over age 6 who understands what baptism symbolizes and wants to make that personal public declaration. We encourage any parents to partner with our Kids and Youth ministries to guide your children through these decisions of faith.

CAN MY INFANT BE BAPTIZED?

Throughout the New Testament, the Bible teaches that baptism is a public expression of worship symbolizing the new life we have when we follow Jesus. In the Bible we see that Jesus’ parents dedicated him to the Lord (Luke 2:22–40), and he was later baptized as an adult (Matthew 3:16–17).

We understand that some churches practice “baptism of confirmation” for children. This ceremony is intended to be a commitment between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his or her own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed and is different from the biblical examples of new believers being baptized to publicly profess their faith in Jesus.

At Zeal, we provide opportunities for child dedication and believer’s baptism.