If you’ve been thinking about being baptized you might have some questions. The list of frequently asked questions below isn’t exhaustive and the answers are surely not extensive, but it’s our hope that this might help you better understand if you are ready to take this next step of faith and begin your walk with Christ through baptism.
If you have questions or want to talk further, please let us know! Email us at
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Why is baptism so important?
When Jesus was about to leave his disciples to ascend into heaven, he challenged them to go into all the world to make disciples and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28). His disciples took this very seriously and, throughout the book of Acts, whenever someone put their faith in Jesus they were baptized. We want to take baptism just as seriously as the early Christians did.
We believe that baptism is a vital step in our journey of faith. When we confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, we step into a life devoted to him. It is an opportunity for us to be united with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection! In baptism, we receive freedom from the power of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of eternal life.
Do I know enough to be baptized?
One of the beauties of baptism is that we are always learning its significance for our lives. If you’re waiting until you know enough about God or the Bible or Jesus to be baptized, you’ll never know enough. It’s like a person saying marriage vows at a wedding. They don’t fully understand what it means to be a spouse, but they are ready to make the commitment to learn by living the married life. The same is true with baptism.
If you understand that God loved the world so much that He gave his Son Jesus on the cross so that whoever believes in Him would have eternal life…
If you believe Jesus is who He says He is…
If you love Him and you’re ready to give your life to him…
Then, you’re ready to live the baptized life!
How old do you have to be to be baptized?
If you’re a parent, you may be wondering about your kids. Are they old enough? At what age should you start encouraging them?
The Bible doesn’t talk about a “right age” to be baptized. However, the decision to join our story to the story of Jesus, to identify with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection, is one that should be made with wisdom and understanding. Some of these concepts are harder for younger children.
We want to encourage parents to help their children have a fuller understanding of baptism as a vital step in their spiritual journey rather than taking this step as a way to relieve feelings of guilt from sin or “punching a ticket” to heaven. It is also important for parents not to do this alone. Enlist the help of trusted spiritual voices in our church or in your life that can also pray and talk with your children about important decisions like baptism.
Do I need to be re-baptized?
There are many reasons that someone might feel the need to be re-baptized. One of the primary reasons people give for this is that they felt as if their baptism was not their choice. Perhaps they were baptized as an infant or felt undue pressure by another person. At First Colony Church of Christ, we practice believer’s baptism. We want the decision to follow Christ with your life to be your own. You need to be able to say in your own heart, “I have decided to follow Jesus.”
Other reasons for re-baptism might be even more personal and complex. We would encourage anyone who is wrestling with this idea to pray with and speak with trusted spiritual voices who can help discern whether re-baptism is a helpful option.
Who can baptize me?
The Bible says almost nothing about the “baptizer,” except that they seem to be someone who is already a believer. Beyond that, the focus of this moment is on what God has done for us through Jesus and the heart of the person being baptized.
If there is a special person in your life you would like to baptize you, let us know. We would love to help facilitate this moment and make it special in every way for you. Any of our ministers or shepherds are also happy to baptize you, if you wish. We’re here to serve you in any way we can.
What does the Bible say about baptism?
Below are some passages of Scripture about baptism to use for your own personal study.
Matthew 3:13-17
Acts 8:26-40
Galatians 2:20, 3:26-29
Titus 3:3-8
Matthew 28:16-20
Romans 6:1-14
Acts 2:36-41
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
John 3:1-8
If you are interested in being baptized or have more questions, please let us know how we can help. Email us at !