Everyone baptized in the New Testament were people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ through faith. In every instance, these converts to Christianity were also of the age to understand and express their personal repentance of sin and reliance upon Jesus alone for their salvation. When a person has made the decision for themselves to trust and follow Jesus, the Bible teaches us to mark that inward decision with the outward symbol of baptism.

When we go down into the water, it symbolizes Jesus’ death on the cross and that our former life is buried with Him. When we come out of the water, it symbolizes Jesus rising from the dead, defeating death and giving us new life in Him. Baptism is a symbol—not just for us, but for our friends and family as well—that the old is gone and the new has come. Baptism is an opportunity for you to celebrate with your friends and family and tell others about the hope you’ve found in Jesus.

In Matthew 3, Jesus chose to get baptized before starting His ministry here on Earth. When we make that same choice, we’re living how Jesus lived. Later, in Matthew 28, Jesus told His followers to make new disciples and baptize them. As we get baptized and baptize others, we continue what Jesus and His disciples started.

Some Christian denominations practice infant baptism rather than baptism by immersion. But since there are no examples of infants baptized in the Bible, how did infant baptism begin? Infant baptism began as a way for parents to dedicate their babies to God in fear that an infant who dies would go to hell. There is no support for this position in the Bible. In fact, baptism in the New Testament is never taught as an act that can be done to or by someone to protect them from hell. Only faith and repentance can bring eternal salvation to anyone. Babies are already safe in their innocence in the eyes of God.

If you were baptized as an infant, that means you have parents who cared deeply about you growing to follow Jesus. We agree that parents should be focused on leading their children to one day trust Jesus for salvation and follow Him!

At Sugar Creek, we do have family dedication Sundays. During these special times in our worship services, we encourage parents to bring their infant children before the church as a public statement that they intend to rear their children in a Christian home and environment so that they, too, will one day place their faith in Jesus for salvation. The Pastor prays over each child and the church voices our commitment to support those families in their efforts to teach their children of Christ, His love, and His salvation.

Click here to learn more about Family Dedication Sundays.

Many people come to Sugar Creek who have been baptized previously, not by immersion, but by sprinkling. A number of Christian denominations baptize converts in this way. Some have asked the question as to whether or not we consider them Christians if they have been baptized by a method other than immersion. Some have even expressed a concern that if they are baptized by immersion now, that they would in some way be nullifying what they knew to be a genuine commitment to Jesus earlier in life. Sugar Creek readily embraces anyone who has previously come to saving faith in Jesus. In order to remain faithful to the Bible’s instructions for baptism, however, we do ask those who want to be church members to submit to baptism by immersion in order to remain consistent with what we believe the Bible teaches. We do not feel their previous spiritual commitment to Christ any less genuine because their baptism was by any other mode than immersion.