Most people love to do what they want to do but find it hard to do what other people want them to do. In the same way, many people have a hard time doing those things they know they should be doing – those things that God tells us we should do. True peace and happiness in life comes not from following our own road map in life but from following the path that God sets before us. Knowing and doing the will of God are two separate things. We can know the will of God and choose not to do it, or we can choose to do what He commands us to do. We hope that the following information will help you in understanding how Baptism fits into God’s plan for your life. If you have not followed God’s direction in believer’s baptism you will find information in the next few pages that will help you to both know and do God’s will for your life.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. WHY PEOPLE GET BAPTIZED
People should be baptized out of an act of obedience to Jesus!

The Bible says . . .

“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.”
Matthew 28:19-20

The Bible says . . .

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
John 14:15

People who want to follow God should do what God wants them to do! Simple enough. Jesus was baptized. He asked his disciples to be baptized. He asked his disciples to baptize others who believed in Him. When we love him we want to follow him and do what he commands us to do. He commands that everyone who chooses to follow him and to call themselves “Christian” should be baptized.People should be baptized because it is a way of telling their family and friends that Jesus is in their life.
The Bible says . . .
The Philippian jailer brought Paul and Silas out of the prison and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved’ . . . He and all his family were baptized . . . The whole family was filled with joy, because they had come to believe in God.”

Acts 16:30-34
All of us can remember an occasion when we attended a wedding or watched one on T.V. A wedding is simply a symbol of a man and a woman’s love for each other. This symbol is an outward sign of their inward love. The ceremony is a way of showing friends and family how much they love each other. The wedding is not when they fell in love, just a sign that they are in love and commit themselves to each other.

In the same way getting baptized is not “the” moment you fall in love with Jesus, it is an outward sign of the inward commitment that you have already made to follow Jesus. Baptism should take place very soon after you make a commitment to follow Jesus. When it does happen, it must happen AFTER you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and it is only a SIGN of what has already happened in your heart – that is the act of obedience to Jesus. This sign is for your friends, family, and the church to witness.
People should be baptized because it is a way of telling others that Jesus washed their sins away.

The Bible Says . . .
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9
Baptism, as an act of obedience, is only a symbol of what God has already done in your life. It has no magic power or ability to wash away sins. Only Jesus can wash away your sins. This happens when you ask Him into your life to be your Lord and Savior. The symbol of water is a cleansing symbol of what Jesus did when He saved you.

HAVE YOU INVITED JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE?

This is the most important question that you need to answer. If not you can pray this simple prayer right now and know that you are saved and ready for heaven and for baptism. Simply pray . . .

Jesus, I am a sinner. I want to ask you to come into my life and save me from my life of sin. I want to be re-born as a Christian. I want you to become the Lord and Savior of my life. – AMEN

If you prayed this prayer today or sometime before today Jesus will honor His word and will come into your life. Now it is important that you listen to Him and begin to obey His commandments to live the life He is calling you to live. The first step in this process is to be baptized as a sign of your obedience to Him.

3. HOW DO YOU GET BAPTIZED?

The first step in being baptized is to indicate a desire to do so. You can do this in a variety of ways. First of all you can come forward during the invitation time on any Sunday morning and tell the minister in the invitation room following the service that you would like to be baptized. Or, you can call the church office and speak with someone anytime during the week. However you contact us we will help you to understand how you can arrange to be baptized.

The second step is to agree on a time to be baptized. We normally offer baptism on the last Sunday of the month during the 11:00 service. In some cases we can arrange another time for you to be baptized. This would depend on the circumstances. You can ask the church office about this special arrangement.

The third step is to arrive at the church prepared for baptism. All you need to bring is a fresh change of under garments. We provide the outer wear, towel, shower shoes, and shower cap. You need to arrive 15 minutes before the service and ask an usher where to go to prepare for baptism. We will give you all the instructions you will need at that point.

The word Baptize in the original Greek language literally means to go under the water. When you are dressed and ready for baptism you will enter the baptism water. The pastor will ask you a simple question something like this: “Have you trusted Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?” You will simple nod or reply “yes.” At that point you will be lowered under that water and immediately raised back up. You will exit the baptism water, change back into your church clothes and be seated in the audience for the remainder of the service. At the end of the service you will be presented with your baptism certificate.

At Family Community Church we believe that it is so important to be baptized that we make salvation and baptism a prerequisite to membership in our church. Because it is so important we want to offer you every opportunity to follow Jesus in obedience by being baptized. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If so, have you been baptized since you made a decision to follow him as Lord and Savior? If not, can we invite you to join us in doing this? Please contact us in the event you would like to follow through with this decision. If you have indicated a desire to do so we will be contacting you to encourage you to follow through with this decision.