Baptism at Collective Church

Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Water baptism is something that follows our faith, and though it does not save us or wash away our sins, it is still loaded with symbolism and meaning:

  1. We identify with Jesus - Just as Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was resurrected proving his victory over death, through water baptism we identify with Jesus and the new life we have in Him.

  2. We express our faith in Jesus - Faith by itself is invisible until it is expressed. Baptism is a tangible expression and public declaration that an inward change has taken place and that we are followers of Jesus.

  3. We desire to obey Jesus - Because identification and expression are essential elements of following Jesus, Jesus calls us to be baptized. One of the last things He told his disciples was to baptize those that put their faith in Him.

If you have never identified with Jesus in this way, but want to express your faith in Jesus and obey Jesus by being baptized, we'd love to hear from you as we plan for our next Baptism Sunday on October 8th!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Being baptized in Jesus’ name is a public profession of faith in Jesus and identification with His death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-8; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21). In baptism, you as a believer are publicly testifying that when Christ died on the cross for your sins, you died to your former life of sin against God. But as Christ was raised from the dead, so you were also raised to eternal life in relationship with him. Additionally, Christians since at least the second century have publicly renounced Satan and his works preceding baptism; early church fathers Tertullian and Basil attributed this tradition directly to Christ’s apostles, and Scriptural support can be inferred from a number of places (James 4:7, Matthew 4:8-11; Acts 26:15-18; Ephesians 2:1-7; Colossians 1:13-14). Baptism is thus a public declaration and a picture of the salvation found in Christ.

    Jesus commanded His followers, “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 28:19-20). The book of Acts shows that this is precisely what the apostles did after being filled with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:41; 8:12, 38; Acts 9:18; 10:48; 16:15, 33; 18:8). As Peter told a crowd, “Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38).

    In the New Testament, we consistently see that when people responded to the preaching of the gospel with faith and repentance, they were immediately baptized. Thus, conversion and baptism are very closely related. In light of these biblical truths, all Christians should seek to be baptized, and we encourage you to be baptized if you’ve put your trust in Christ.

  • When we sin or turn away from Jesus, we are called to repent and turn back to Him to forgive us and change our ways. God’s word says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Because of the forgiveness brought about by Jesus’ once-for-all, atoning sacrifice for sin, we do not need to be baptized a second time, even if we turned away from Jesus and the Church for a time.

  • Baptism is a public identification of your faith in Christ and commitment to follow him. We would only encourage you to be baptized more than once if your initial baptism was not out of a sincere faith in Jesus.

  • Several passages, on the surface, seem to teach that baptism saves (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). In all these cases, however, faith in Jesus comes first. The biblical order is repentance and belief, then baptism. Scripture is abundantly clear that purification from sin is not the result of baptism (Acts 15:9; 1 John 1:9). However, the act of baptism is so closely related to the act of faith that they are often expressed as one act. Baptism is reserved for those who sincerely repent of their sins and place faith in the Lord Jesus. It is this faith in Christ that saves us from our sins.

  • Collective Church believes that baptism is intended for those who believe in Christ as Lord and Savior. In the New Testament, even when whole households were baptized (Acts 10:48; 16:15, 33; Acts 18:8; 1 Corinthians 1:16), those who were baptized were those who heard the gospel (Acts 10:44) and believed (Acts 16:31, 34). When it comes to children, baptism is appropriate when a child displays evidence of a genuine relationship with God and a degree of understanding of what it means to trust in Christ. It is impossible to set a precise age for when a child should be baptized. The right age will vary with each child.

  • Being baptized is a celebration of who Christ is and what he’s done in your life, so we encourage you to invite friends and family members to come celebrate this event with you. Whether they are Christians or not, this is a great opportunity to show people what your faith in Jesus means to you as well as a chance for people to hear the gospel.