BAPTISM

The Bible teaches that baptism is a symbolic act. It’s the first step in following Jesus Christ as Lord. Declaring to the body your personal faith in Jesus. As a wedding ring identifies a husband with his wife, so baptism identifies a Christian with Christ. At Riverside Church, we believe the Bible teaches that baptism is for believers only  – for those who have repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus Christ. For this reason, we don’t baptize infants or young children. Our Statement of Faith describes baptism in this way:

“Water baptism is intended only for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and become his disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony to God, the Church, oneself, and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a visual demonstration of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of his death and resurrection. It signifies that his former way of life has  been put to death, and vividly depicts a person’s release from the mastery of sin.”

If you’ve never been baptized as a believer, even if you’ve been saved for a while, we encourage you to still be baptized – publicly declaring your faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ. Though we don’t believe that baptism saves anyone, we do believe it is an important step of obedience and discipleship. Below are some relevant Scriptures we encourage you to look up and study, as it relates to baptism.

Those who have repented and believed in Jesus Christ 

“…Repent and be baptized…” Acts 2:38 

“But when they believed…they were baptized…” Acts 8:12 

Those who desire to be baptized in obedience to God 

“Those who accepted his message were baptized…” Acts 2:41

After they have repented and believed

Ideally, after some instruction to bring understanding and faith for obedience – See Matthew

Immersion 

“…Jesus…was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water…” Mark 1:9-10 “Then both…went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:38-39 

By another believer 

“…go and make disciples…baptizing them…” Matthew 28:19 

In the name of the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit 

“…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Matthew

To follow Jesus’ command

“…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:20 

To testify that we are disciples of Jesus Christ 

To identify with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection 

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death…” Romans 6:4

We follow Jesus’ example and command 

Matthew 28:18-20 

We receive grace that comes with faith and obedience 

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:17 

We testify to the person and work of Jesus Christ 

“Having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12