Water baptism has been practiced throughout the history of the church starting in the book of Acts (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 8:38; 10:47-48 to name a few) and in every century following. Many churches consider baptism a sacrament (an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given to us, as directed by Jesus). So water baptism is no small deal. The following will be a helpful guide to know why it is so important, thus giving meaning to why followers of Jesus do what they do.

  • Jesus Himself was baptized with water at the beginning of his ministry as recorded in Mark 1:4-11and Luke 3:21. We are to model our lives after Jesus.
  • Jesus instructed his followers to be baptized with water in Matthew 28:19-20. Water baptism is not a requirement for salvation but is a demonstration of our obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Receiving Jesus as savior and king is the only prerequisite for water baptism. When we receive salvation as an act of grace by faith, we take part in his death, burial and resurrection. We go from dead to alive. When we go under the water in baptism, it represents the dying to an old way of life, then we come up out of the water, we are “resurrected” to a new life.

  • Water baptism simply signifies what has already taken place. So, water baptism is a physical demonstration of a spiritual reality.

Romans 6:1-5 describes it like this. “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

  • Water baptism identifies us with Jesus publicly. We are making a public confession of a personal decision. We are also saying that we belong not only to Jesus, but to the global, historical and local Church. It is impossible to baptize yourself. We need others and baptism is a visible declaration of this reality.

Here are a few details about water baptism at Mill City Church.

  • We practice baptism by immersion. The Greek verb baptidzo means “to immerse.” Being submerged under water is a picture of being fully washed and cleansed by the work of Jesus.
  • For a fuller picture of water baptism, watch the following message here (https://vimeo.com/177933853)
  • Please feel free to email us with any questions.
  • Click here for more details or to register for an upcoming water baptism.