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Get Baptised

We’d love to explore baptism with you. We like to do this in person where possible so fill out the contact form below and we’ll be in touch.

For now, below the contact form is some generalised, helpful information about baptism.

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Getting Baptised

Baptism is the immersion of believers on the profession of their faith, an act of obedience and identification with the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Water Baptism is far more than a ritual or religious exercise. It is not only our personal choice, but it’s a command for us as believers. Jesus established water baptism as a commitment opportunity for believers when He gave the Great Commission message in Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16.

Water Baptism is a public, outward declaration that reflects a personal, inward faith. It associates the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and signifies the believer’s death to the old life and his or her resurrection as a new creation in Christ (Romans 6:1–8; Colossians 2:12, 2Corinthians 5:17).

In order to understand the reason for being water baptised, it is important to carefully consider what the Bible says about it. Please read the information below and if you have any questions or would like to discuss it further, please call Pastor Sarah on 0412 535 210.

​Why be Baptised?

1. Because you want to follow Christ’s example. Jesus himself was baptised. He was not a sinner, yet he humbled himself in obedience to identify with us and give us an example to follow. “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.” Mark 1:9.

2. Because Christ commanded it. Water baptism is an act of faith and obedience to the commands of Christ. “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”(John 14:15; James 2:17-18).
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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 28:19-20 .


3. Because it shows you are a believer. Baptism declares that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of your faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ. It is the next step after salvation through repentance and faith and is an important foundation for the Christian life (Hebrews 6:1-2). “Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved…” Mark 16:16
“Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Acts 2:38 

When are we to 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, he can and should be baptised. “Those who accepted his message were baptised…” Acts 2:41 

How are we to be Baptised?

1. 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 


2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water.
The book of Acts shows us that this was the norm for every believer. “…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

Who should be Baptised?

Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ. When Paul writes to the believers in Rome, he assumes that all of them have been baptised (Romans 6). The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ! “Those who accepted his message were baptised…” Acts 2:41

We do not baptise children until they are old enough to understand and believe.

The Meaning of Baptism

1. Baptism is a visible act with a spiritual meaning. It is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead.“…having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12 

2. It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. We bury the old life and we rise to walk in a new life.bBaptism is like a wedding ring – it is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart, a commitment that has to be followed through and lived out on a daily basis. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2Cor 5:17

Baptism does not make you a believer; it shows that you already are one! Baptism does not ‘save’ you; only your faith in Christ does that. 

3. In baptism, the believer has the triune name of the triune God placed upon them, ‘Father’, ‘Son’ & ‘Holy Spirit’. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the name of the Godhead (one God in three persons). The Gospels tell us to baptise believers “…into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”(Matthew 28:19). Baptism confirms our position ‘in Christ’ and affirms the blessings of the Father on us as his children.

4. Baptism also connects us to the ‘body of Christ’, his people in the earth. In baptism there is a real sense of being joined with other believers, not just participating in an individual act of our own spiritual journey. 

“…For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body…” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13