What is Baptism?
Baptism is an action instituted by Jesus Christ in which God, the believer and the Christian community are all involved. In baptism, new believers confess faith and share what God has already done in their lives. Here, there is also a ‘letting go’ in which new Christians abandon themselves to the grace of God and the resurrection power of the one who overcomes the chaos of death and sets our feet on the new path of life. The waters of baptism are a meeting-place where human trust and the life-giving acts of God come together.
If you are thinking about baptism here are a few resources for you to consider.
First read Acts 2:22-47 and then explore the resources and questions below
The Process of Baptism
1) The Christian life can be seen as a series of stepping stones over a stream. The first step
is conversion and the second step is baptism. Notice that in Acts 2:38 baptism follows
conversion and cannot produce salvation.
2) Differences between infant and believer’s Baptism:
Believer’s Baptism Infant Baptism
Voluntary Involuntary
Follows Faith Precedes Faith
Immersion Sprinkling (see pg32)
Celebrates new birth Anticipates new birth
Promises made by believer Promises made on behalf of child
Why should we be baptised?
3a) We are baptised in obedience to what Jesus taught, see Matthew 28:16-20.
b) We are baptised because of Jesus’ example, see Matthew 3:15.
What is happening in Baptism?
4a) Baptism is a symbol. It symbolises our cleansing from sin, see Acts 22:16.
b) Symbolises our union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.
This is at the heart of the Christian faith, see Acts 2:22-28 & Rom. 6:4
5) It’s an entry rite into the church, see 1 Cor. 12:12-13.
6) It’s a sign of your conversion and that God’s Spirit is in you, see Acts 2:33 & 2:38
7) It’s a Sacrament, whereby God meets you in a special way through your obedience,
see Acts 19:6.
What happens after Baptism?
8) Baptism is not the end of your discipleship, in one way it’s the beginning. In obedience,
you may come under spiritual attack and therefore it’s important you actively seek God
through your Spiritual disciplines see Acts 2: 42-47
9) Baptism, church membership and service are closely linked in a Baptist church because
Baptism is an entry rite into the worldwide church of Christ and membership is a decision
to be identified with and committed to a local church.
A special moment is Baptism
Filled with hope and optimism
With faith we journey forward
Personal Commitment to the Lord
Born again to a new life with the king
Given God's presence and his blessing
Live like Jesus and give compassion to all
Become a Disciple and follow the call
- Pam Thompson 2021
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 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 v18-20
Here is the video of the first baptism in the new baptistry and some of our recent ones at Avenue Baptist Church. It is shaped in the cross, drawing inspiration from the Bible when the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 6 ‘Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christmas raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we, too, might walk in newness of life.’
Believers' Baptism of Awat at Avenue Baptist Church on the 17th of April 2022
Believers' Baptism of Awat at Avenue Baptist Church on the 17th of April 2022
Believers' Baptism of Caroline at Avenue Baptist Church on the 17th of April 2022
Marys' baptism 11th October 2020
