63rd Street Christian Congregation

Baptism -- FAQ What is Baptism
Baptism is a step in the process of becoming a Christian. It is defined as: A ceremony, trial, or experience by which one is initiated, purified, or given a name. The physical act of Baptism is one who decides to become saved, the person will confess and repent of sins and then is immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Is confession of sins necessary?
Yes. Confession of sins is necessary for baptism. John 3:6 is an example of confession of sins for baptism. �And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.� This does not mean you have to give a laundry list of all the sins you have committed, we commit sins all the time that we don't know about. This simply is the act of confessing you are a sinner.

Is repentance necessary?
Yes. Repentance of sins is necessary for baptism. Acts 2:38 says �Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.� Remember, repentance is not the act of being apologitic, it's the act of change.

Can I be baptized if I don�t believe, just to be safe?
No. If you don�t have faith, then being baptized will do nothing more than get you wet. When Philip baptized the Eunich in Acts 8 he told the Eunich in verse 37 that he had to have faith �If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest�

What is the reason we use water?
The reason we use water for baptism is because water is symbolic of Christ�s Blood. The water represents Christ�s Blood washing our sins away like in a bath the water washes the dirt away. It is important to note that Christ's blood flows continuously over us once we are saved.

I was baptized when I was a baby, am I saved?
No. Baptism cannot occur when you are an infant. The reason for this is because water washes away our sins. If we have no sins, how can they be washed away? Also, if repenting and confession of sins is necessary for baptism, how can you do this when you are an infant?

Do I have to be immersed to be baptized? Can I be sprinkled?
To be baptized you have to be immersed, being sprinkled will not work. Romans 6:4 - 5 says �Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.� We must be buried, to be buried you must be covered. Also, the greek word for baptism is baptizmo which means immersed.

When I am baptized, will I always be saved?
The once saved, always saved notion is not correct. The bible talks about walking away from Christ. Look at the story of the prodigal father, the son walked away from his father, and was not under the riches of his father until he returned. With that said, once we leave, we are always welcome to return no questions asked, remember, the father went out to greet the son, he didn�t wait for the son to come and ask to be accepted back.