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We are so excited to be part of this incredible event in your Christian journey. This page was created for you! Whether you have decided to be water baptised, or wanting more information, we are here to assist.
Water Baptism is a significant milestone in the life of every Christian. At LifeHouse Church, we believe that water baptism is a biblical teaching and sacred practice for true followers of Christ.
Indeed, Jesus Himself emphasised the importance of water baptism when He gave the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)
Where does it say in the Bible that we should be baptised in water?
Jesus Himself was baptised by John in the River Jordan at the age of 30 just before the beginning of His public ministry, leaving behind an example for His followers (Matthew 3:13-17).
Jesus told His disciples after His resurrection and just before He was taken up to heaven that they should go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that He had commanded them (Matthew 28:18-20).
The disciples obeyed Him and preached baptism along with the gospel (Acts 2:38).
When people repented from their sins and believed in Jesus, they were baptised in water (Acts 2:41; 8:12,38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:15,33; 19:5; 22:16)
Who should be baptised?
When Jesus told the apostles to baptise people, He meant those who had been made disciples (Matthew 28:19) When Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost, he told people to repent and be baptised (Acts 2:38).
When the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip whether he could be baptised, Philip replied that he could if he believed in Jesus with all his heart (Acts 8:37).
In other words, it is people who have repented from their sins, believed in Jesus as their Saviour and decided to follow Him as His disciples, who should be baptised in water. We can also say in another way that only those who have been born again should be baptised, because those who repent from their sins and believe in Jesus are born of God (1 John 3:9;4:7;5:1,4)
Why should we be baptised in water after we are ‘born again’?
While baptism itself has no power to cleanse or save from sin, it is an important step of obedience in a believer’s life as an outward acknowledgment of the salvation experience that has already taken place.
What is the meaning of water baptism?
The act of immersion and emerging from the water represents the death of our old self, and mirrors the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we come out of the water, we are identifying with the resurrection of Christ into the newness of life, and signifies that we are now a new person with the life of Christ in us (Romans 6:3,4). By going through this act we are signifying that from then on, we want to live with a clear conscience before God (1 Peter 3:21).
How are we to be baptised?
As Jesus was baptised – by being immersed in water. The word “baptise” comes from the Greek word baptizo which means “to immerse or dip under water”.
“As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water.” (Matthew 3:16)
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water. The book of Acts shows us that this was the norm for every believer. (Example) “….then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. When they came up out of the water…” Acts 8:38-39
When should we be baptised?
As soon as you have believed! You shouldn’t delay. Believers in the New Testament were baptised the same day. As soon as a person decides to believe in Christ, they can and should be baptised. (Acts 2:41; 8:35-39)
How many times should I be baptised?
Only once. If a Christian gets out of fellowship with the Lord because of sin, they can confess their sins and be forgiven (1 John 1:5-10); but it is not necessary to be baptised again.
Water baptism is a once-and-for-all public testimony of our identification in death, burial, and resurrection. It is not a religious ceremony that washes away our sins.
Only once. If a Christian gets out of fellowship with the Lord because of sin, they can confess their sins and be forgiven (1 John 1:5-10); but it is not necessary to be baptised again.
Water baptism is a once-and-for-all public testimony of our identification in death, burial, and resurrection. It is not a religious ceremony that washes away our sins.
I was baptised as a baby, do I need to be baptised again?
Water baptism should follow after repentance and a decision to place one’s faith in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord. True water baptism is always a “believer’s baptism” as demonstrated in the New Testament.
The baptism of an infant is the decision of the parent. Since infants cannot repent or place their faith in Christ, infant baptism would become just a ritual. If you were baptised as an infant, you need to be baptised since you did not make a conscious choice as a disciple of Jesus.
In other words, that baptism you had gone through was not a declaration of your faith in Jesus and therefore not meaningful to you.
A testimony, is simply the written or spoken account of what God has done in your life. It is like a fingerprint, unique, one of a kind. Yet, it has the power to change another person’s life, which is why we give everyone the opportunity to share publicly why they are choosing to be baptised. Below is a simple structure to assist you writing your testimony.
Before
Keep focus on one or two areas of your life before you accepted Christ.
Why & How
Why did you decide to follow Christ? How did it happen?
After
How has your life changed since? (Keep in mind the one or two areas mentioned in ‘Before’)
We recommend being baptised in dark coloured shorts/activewear/pants and we will provide you with a t-shirt and towel.
You’ll need to bring:
We will have someone ready to meet you in front of the lift, located in the church foyer at 9am. From here we share time together in the lounge. We relax, talk about what the service will look like and have the prayer team pray with us. Then we will take you into the auditorium to rehearse the baptism.
You will be given an allocated seat on the far side of the auditorium in the first two rows.
There will be a private area for you to get changed after the baptism and our team will be there to instruct you and provide support. We will have a basket for you to place your used tshirt and towel after the baptism.
Please be mindful not to bring anything on stage that can’t go in the water (phone, watch, jewellery, glasses, shoes, etc).
If you are inviting family and friends to celebrate with you please let them know that doors open at 9:50am as our service starts at 10:00am. Please encourage your guests to arrive early to get a good seat near the front to watch your baptism. You will be able to connect with your guests in the foyer before the service starts.
Once you have finished, you will be spend time with your family and friends in the foyer before the service begins. Can we suggest that your family sits on the near side of the auditorium near the baptism tank to the best viewing.
Everyone has questions about Jesus, God and Christianity.
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to explore life and the Christian faith, to ask questions, and share their point of view in an open, friendly environment.
Following Jesus is a lifelong discovery of the spiritual being you were created to be. At LifeHouse we believe that real life change happens in the context of relationships and the best place to connect, receive care and grow is in a Grow Group.