Christian baptism is the outward expression of the inner faith and trust a person has in Jesus Christ
Our regular short course on baptism covers:
- what baptism is
- why we baptise
- how we baptise
- what happens after baptism
If you're thinking about being baptised, and would like to know about the next course, contact Nick Swanson or call the church office on 0116 286 3145.
Why do we have baptism?
Jesus said “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
As a Baptist church we practice 'believer's baptism', which means we do not baptise babies or children, but wait until people have come to know their Father God for themselves and made a personal decision to follow Jesus.
When a person comes to faith in Jesus they can get baptised. This is a public declaration that they follow Jesus.
What baptism symbolises
Being immersed in water symbolises dying and being buried with Christ. The person's old way of life, without God, has died. The water reminds us that God has forgiven their sins, just as if they were washed away.
Coming up out of the water symbolises being resurrected with Christ to new life as a child of God - a life that will go on past death and into the paradise of eternity.
St. Paul wrote: "All of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised 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.” (Romans 6:3-4)
Being baptised is a special event in all our lives. Read about people at WBC who are followers of Jesus, and find out why they chose to be baptised.