Baptism
Have you made a commitment to follow Jesus? Baptism is your next step!
Baptism is a picture of identifying with Jesus in his death and resurrection, and belonging in the family of God.
Following the instruction of Jesus, the Church has practiced baptism since its beginning. The practice announces that a person’s new identity and life is in Jesus by his death and resurrection.
Baptism doesn’t make you a Christian, instead, it is a declaration that through faith, you have already been united with Jesus. Baptism does not “save” you; only your faith in Jesus accomplishes salvation and new life.
Baptism is kind of like a wedding ring—it is an outward symbol of a commitment to follow Jesus made in a person’s heart.
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:18-20
“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” — Romans 6:3, 5; Colossians 2:12
“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 6:4
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
Some have asked, “What if my parents had me baptized as an infant?”
Cody Alliance practices believer baptism. Because infant baptism is the result of a parent or loved one’s decision and not a public statement of the person who’s committed their life to following Jesus, we encourage those who were baptized as infants to now be baptized as a follower of Jesus, since this is the biblical pattern.
Here’s what the Bible says:
- “Those who accepted His message were baptized…” — Acts 2:41
- “Simon himself believed and was baptized.” — Acts 8:13
- “But when they believed…they were baptized, both men and women.” — Acts 8:12
The Greek term for our word “baptism” means “to dip.” It would have been the common and assumed understanding of the Greek word in Jesus’ day. In addition, Jesus was baptized by immersion, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” — Matthew 3:16
Being immersed into and coming out of water clearly symbolizes “being baptized into [Jesus’] death…and just as Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”— Romans 6:3-4
It’s more about a child’s understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to belong to him than how old the child is. When a child can genuinely decide to follow Jesus and understands the meaning of baptism, they are ready to be baptized.
If your child is expressing an interest in baptism, contact Pastor Michael.
At Cody Alliance, we encourage Christian parent(s) to dedicate their children to God. Child dedication is all about parents presenting their children before God as part of the church family and committing to raise that child in a Christian home.
When a child is dedicated, our church family also commits to supporting and partnering with the parent(s) in the life of the child.
If you’d like to have your child or children dedicated, contact Pastor Michael for details and dates.
Want to learn more about baptism?
If you're interested in being baptized, complete and submit the form below, and Kendra will contact you.