Baptism

As a person goes down into the water and is submerged, this represents Jesus dying on the cross and being buried in the tomb. When the person comes up from the water they are made new and washed clean of their sins, representing Jesus’s resurrection. This is explained in Colossians 2: 12-15, “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.” When you choose to become baptized, you will be washed clean of your sins and made new in Christ.

Why Should I Get Baptized?

Deciding to get baptized is a way to publicly declare your commitment to God in the presence of your church family and other loved ones.  After you’ve accepted Jesus into your life, getting baptized is the next step within your walk with Christ.  We do not believe that baptism saves us, but it shows others that we are saved.  It is a step of obedience to Christ who commands us to be baptized as his followers.  Symbols are powerful because of what they symbolize.  A wedding ring does not make us married, but it shows we are married.  So baptism identifies us with Christ and shows that we are willing to follow him.

The Bible teaches us to get baptized as a declaration of faith.  Even Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist to fulfill the scriptures of the Old Testament (Matthew 3: 13-17).  The practice of baptism originated as a Jewish sacrament as a way to become right with God and repent from sin.  However, those that were not Jewish were unable to be baptized to receive this same salvation, and even those that were baptized continued to fall short in sin.

Before Jesus, people were baptized with water.  When Jesus began baptizing His followers, it took on a new meaning with the hope of salvation for all people through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 explains that “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Getting baptized acknowledges you have been reborn and strengthens you as you obey God and experience a new life through Jesus by His love and endless grace.

If you aren’t sure if you are ready to be baptized, we suggest that you speak to a minister or request prayer before committing. To ask for prayer over the decision to be baptized, you can request prayer here.

New Life Through Baptism

Paul teaches baptism as a symbol of our deep faith in the resurrection of Jesus.  In baptism we are buried with Christ by baptism into his death and raised to live a brand new life (Romans 6:4).  So baptism is a visible evidence of the inward transformation which takes place when we choose to follow Jesus.

Even though getting baptized shows you have entered the Kingdom of Heaven and have a new life in Christ, it doesn’t mean that your life will be perfect moving forward or that you’ll never make mistakes again. However, it does mean that God will always be with you. God promises us in the Bible that he will never leave us and that nothing can separate us from His love (Deuteronomy 31:6). Even when you make a mistake, God’s gift of endless grace allows us to be covered in forgiveness.

If you’ve landed on this page and haven’t yet accepted Jesus into your life and want to know more about who he is and how you can also receive forgiveness, click here.

What Happens During A Baptism?

During your baptism, we will introduce you and ask you to profess your faith in Jesus. Our pastor will gently submerge you underwater for a moment and then bring you back up out of the water. At Tallowood, we believe that every baptism is a reason to celebrate. We encourage you to invite friends and family to witness your baptism and support you in this important moment in your life.

Can I Get Baptized a Second Time?

If you grew up in a Christian family, your parents may have chosen to baptize you as a baby. At Tallowood Baptist Church, we believe that baptism is a choice that’s between you and the Lord. Becoming baptized as an adult is a powerful way to declare your faith in Jesus, choosing to give your life over to Christ. If God has put it on your heart to be baptized again, we encourage you to do so.

Some people also may wish to get baptized a second time for other personal reasons such as having once turned away from their faith and now would like to recommit themselves to following Jesus. Whatever your circumstances are that are causing you to want to get baptized again, we would be honored to baptize you at Tallowood.

How Can I Get Baptized?

We believe that choosing to get baptized is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. If you would like to learn more about getting baptized at Tallowood, please fill out the form below with your contact information, and a member of our team will reach out to you. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to get baptized – don’t worry. It’s just a starting place to let us know that you might be interested in getting baptized in the future. We’ll talk with you and give you more information about being baptized and allow you to ask any questions that you might have.