Tuggle
Tuesday, April 1st :: 7pm @ DBC Chapel
Sign-up on Tuggle
WHO IS BAPTISM FOR?
Once a person admits that he or she is a sinner and turns to Christ for salvation, the Bible says the watching world needs to know. Baptism has always stood as a kind of public test for people who have moved from being a seeker into being a believer.
Believers are those who have realized that their sin has separated them from God. They have given up all efforts to reach God through good works or religious activity. They have concluded that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for their sins is the only thing that can bridge the gap between them and God. A believer is someone who has decided to trust Christ alone for his or her salvation.
If you have come to this point in your spiritual journey, then you are ready to be baptized. Just as a bride and groom tell of their love for one another through the symbol of rings, you should also want to show the world through Baptism of your union with Christ. Let the miracle that has happened in you show through this public profession of faith.
COLLEGE LIFE’S BELIEF ON BAPTISM…
College Life and Denton Bible Church understand the Scriptures to teach that only professing believers qualify for Baptism.
Scriptural teaching on Baptism may be summarized as follows:
- Baptism is an act of obedience to the command of Christ, fulfilled by individuals who have submitted themselves to His sovereignty.
- Baptism symbolizes the spiritual cleansing through divine forgiveness and the newness of life experience by believers by virtue of their identification with Christ in His death and resurrection.
- Baptism provides an opportunity for believers to make a formal profession of their faith before the church.
BIBLICAL PASSAGES…
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands his followers to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…” Baptism is the means by which followers of Christ are identified.
In passages such as Acts 2:41, 8:12 and 10:47-48, it is evident that Baptism follows an individual’s decision to trust Christ alone for salvation. The New Testament records the Baptisms of adult believers only. Baptism was never intended to provide salvation for an individual, but rather to publicly identify a person with Christ. In Romans 6:1-11, the apostle Paul explains how the immersion mode of Baptism identifies the believer with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Going under the water represents Christ’s death and coming out of the water illustrates His resurrection.
FAQ’s…
1. Is it ok to get “re-baptized?”
We acknowledge that there are many folks who may have been baptized when they were younger or as infants, at a time when there wasn’t a true knowledge or faith in Jesus- and therefore received a baptism that didn’t mean anything to the individual or at the very least, was pre-mature. In this instance, an individual (who now clearly understands their salvation and what the act of baptism represents) may be qualified to be baptized again. We see a clear example of a re-baptism in Acts 18:24 - 19:5, when Apollos had to be re-baptized because of an inaccurate understanding of the Gospel of Christ.
Now is there some discernment that needs to be in place here? You bet. We do not endorse re-baptizing people simply because they progressively matured in moral behavior since the last time they were baptized. This is not a ceremony of “re-dedication.” This is a ceremony of identifying your life and salvation with Christ. So one needs to seriously consider if this desire to be re-baptized is based on an emotional feeling or on the solid fact that the previous baptism was invalid because of an inaccurate understanding of the Gospel or baptism itself.
2. Do you “dunk” or “sprinkle?”
At Denton Bible Church we believe that since the whole self was crucified with Christ in His death, and the whole self was raised with Christ in His resurrection- the symbolic act of baptism is best represented through total immersion. This doesn’t mean that the other forms are wrong, but rather that this particular form is best suited for what we believe.
3. What do I wear?
Baptism at Denton Bible is casual. You can wear anything you want. Swimsuit, jeans, shorts, etc… All we ask is that you don’t wear anything that you can see through (i.e. - white shirts, shorts) or any two piece swim suits.
4. Can my family & friends attend?
Absolutely! This is your testimony, so we encourage all your loved ones to be there.