WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Baptism is about becoming part of the body of Christ and declaring that Jesus is Lord of your life. It's also an outward sign of an inward change of heart. This IS the next step after repentance. It involves applying water to the new Chirstian, which symbolizes their death to their old way of life into new life as part of God's family, the Church. (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:3-4)
HOW DOES BAPTISM WORK?
There is nothing in scripture that says specifically how every person should be baptized. Therefore, the Church of the Nazarene considers immersion, sprinkling, and pouring as acceptable methods of baptism. The HOW isn't as important as the WHAT and the WHY according to scripture. And we know Jesus was baptized and set an example for us moving forward.
WHY GET BAPTIZED?
Many believe that baptism is simply about declaring that we have been forgiven of our sins and desire to live for God. If that is true, then whey did Jesus need to be baptized? He was free of sin. But we know that Jesus' baptism was signaling the beginning of His ministry on earth in establishing God's kingdom,. AKA the Church. As new creatures in Christ, we are being baptized into the Church as participants in the mission of God in the world. That being said, it is ALSO about publicly celebrating what Christ has done in your heart. So, every follower of Christ should be baptized.
I've been baptized. Do i need to be re-baptized?
NO! In the Church of the Nazarene we believe that when you are baptized, you are baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ, not just the Nazarene Church. So, we recognize the baptism of everyone, regardless of denomination or age.
