WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM? At Hope, we belive baptism is a "big deal".  While the Bible nowhere teaches that baptism saves a person, only faith in Jesus can do that, baptism is an important first step in the life of a Christian.  Baptism is a public celebration testifying that a person is a Jesus follower and is vital for at least 3 reasons: 1.  Baptism publicly declares my relationship with Jesus. 2.  Baptism publicly identifies me with the family of Jesus. 3.  Baptism publicly introduces Jesus to those who don’t know Him. So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.   Acts 2:41,47 WHY SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED? 1. Jesus instructs us to be baptized after we surrender our lives to Him. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. -Matt. 28:18 2. It illustrates Christ’s burial and resurrection. "Christ died for our sins... He was buried... and He rose again." --I Cor. 15:3-4 "For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ." --Col. 2:12 3. It illustrates my new life as a Christian. "When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!" --2 Cor. 5:17 "By our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... so also we may live a new life!" --Rom. 6:4 Baptism DOES NOT make you a Christian - it shows that you already have a relationship with Christ. Baptism does not "save" you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring - it´s an outward symbol of the inward transformation that took place in your heart through your new relationship with Jesus.
	WHY BE BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION?   1. Because Jesus was baptized that way. "As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water." --Matt. 3:16 2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion. (Example) "...then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water..." --Acts 8:38-39 The word Baptize means "To dip under water" The Greek work Baptizo means "To immerse or dip under water". It best symbolized a burial and resurrection!
	WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED? 1. Every person who has believed in Christ. "Those who believe and accepted His message were baptized..." --Acts 2:41 "But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News... and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." --Acts 8:12
	WHAT ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM? In some churches, infant baptism (or christening) represents a decision made by parents that they are dedicating their child to Christ. In many ways, that's the same reason we do baby dedications at Hope. It's a very important time for parents to commit to raise their children in accordance with the teachings of Scripture. It is important to remember that whether you were christened as a baby or your parents participated in a baby dedication, that doesn't make you a Christian. Only a personal acceptance of Christ's death on the cross for your sins can do that. While we recognize the right of other churches to practice infant baptism, we understand Scripture to teach that only professing believers qualify for baptism.