All those who are willing to repent of their sins and confess their belief in Christ should be baptized (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38-39).
The word for "baptism" in the New Testament is the Greek word baptizo, which means "to submerge in water." The New Testament says baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:1-5; Colossians 2:12). Baptism serves as a symbol of the burial of the old self and the resurrection of a believer's new life with Christ. Therefore, we baptize people by immersing them in water.
A person should be baptized at the time he or she repents of their sins and trusts in Christ. The Bible teaches we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8), but in the New Testament church, a person's salvation was sealed through the rite of baptism. So baptism was not just a symbol or a memorial of faith, but was intended to offer a means of union with Christ (Galatians 3:27) and a benchmark of transformation, marking the place and time a person made a commitment to Christ (Rom. 6:1-8). At First Church of Christ, we are attempting to restore the original intent and practice of baptism. Therefore, we ask a person to be baptized at the point that he is ready to make a commitment to Christ.
A person should be baptized to follow the example of Christ (Mat. 3:13-17), to obey Christ's command (Mat. 28:18), to accept forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), to express trust in Christ (Acts 8:12-13), and to testify to God's work in his or her life (Rom. 6:1-8; Gal. 3:27). Baptism also serves to cleanse a guilty conscience (1 Pet. 3:21). The Holy Spirit prompts individuals to recognize their sin and guilt. The only method by which the human soul can be wiped clean of sin is through the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:27-10:7). This "washing away" of sin is most clearly symbolized in the act of baptism (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).
Since one of the biggest obstacles between God and man is human pride, baptism also offers a venue by which believers humble themselves before God and others and admit their need for Christ's redemption (James 4:6). In addition, baptism meets a God-given human need for expression. Everyone needs an outlet for emotion, or an expression for an impression. Baptism is the outlet for an expression of faith in Christ.
The act of baptism cannot save an individual. We are saved only through accepting Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Baptism demonstrates the believer's acceptance of Christ and is the point of time when the believer receives assurance of his or her faith. Those who were never baptized by immersion but were sprinkled for baptism as infants rest in God's merciful hands. We hope that Jesus will say to any person who has truly submitted to him but was not taught about immersion, "Your faith has saved you." Yet someone who understands Christ's command to be baptized and refuses to obey should not consider himself to have submitted to Christ.
Any follower of Christ who has willingly been immersed into Christ does not need to repeat that act when they come to FCC. Rebaptism is encouraged for those who lack confidence in their initial baptism experience because they don't remember it, they were coerced, or their heart was not right with God at the time. Anyone who has fallen into sin after having been baptized should repent and seek forgiveness, but rebaptism is not necessary (Acts 8:13-24).
No. Baptisms at other times are acceptable (Acts 8:38; 16:33), but baptisms during worship services are encouraged because they provide the opportunity to testify to your faith and show humility. Paul exhorts all believers to unite, for we are all of "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). Regardless of our particular beliefs regarding the mode of baptism, it is important for all Christians to seek unity as representatives of Christ's body. We believe the source of unity is the truth of God's Word, and we pray that baptism will be a practice of unity, not division, among believers (John 17:17-21).