Baptism
Why get Baptized?
Baptism is a sign that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Jesus declared in Mark 16:16 that we should believe and be baptized. Notice that baptism follows belief. Baptism does not save us, but baptism is an outward sign that we have put our faith in Jesus; baptism is the outward sign of the inward work that Jesus has done in our hearts.
Baptism is symbolic of our death and resurrection with Jesus.
"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4
When we go under the water in baptism it is a symbol that our old life, (who we used to be before putting our faith in Jesus) has been buried with Jesus in the grave, and when we come up out of the water it is a symbol of how we have now been raised with Jesus and empowered by Jesus to walk in newness of life.
That is what we celebrate through baptism.
When should children get baptized?
It is our belief that getting baptized is an important step in a person’s walk with Jesus and will be a lot more meaningful to them if they understand the part that baptism plays in our faith experience with Jesus.
Water baptism is a sacrament of the church, commanded by our Lord, signifying acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ to be administered to believers as a declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Baptism is a symbol of the new covenant of grace as circumcision was the symbol of the old covenant; and, since infants are recognized as being included in the atonement, they may be baptized upon the request of parents or guardians who shall give assurance for them of necessary Christian training. They shall be required to affirm the vow for themselves before being accepted into church membership.