Everyone baptized in the New Testament were people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ through faith and immediately baptized. 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 immersion. 

Romans 6:3-4 answers that question. "Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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." 

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.

Baptism means "to immerse". When we change the method, we risk changing the true meaning of baptism.

In Matthew 3, Jesus chose to get immersed 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 by immersion and baptize others the same way, we continue what Jesus and His disciples started.

Some Christian denominations practice infant sprinkling rather than immersion. But because salvation is a personal decision to follow Christ, there are no clear biblical examples of infants being baptized. 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 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 raise their children in a Christian home and environment so that they, too, will one day place their faith in Jesus for salvation. A 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.

Every believer should be baptized by immersion. Sugar Creek doesn’t discredit what people experienced in their past. We respect what God has done in their life and are truly grateful for it. We aren’t asking anyone to discredit that. What we are actually inviting them to do is add another experience and follow the biblical command to be baptized by immersion.