WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?

Believers. Jesus Christ led a perfect, blameless life, then died on the cross so we could be forgiven. It is only through his perfect sacrifice that we are saved from the eternal consequences of our sin. Salvation occurs when a person places his or her faith in the death and resurrection of Christ. So, where does baptism come in? Not until after salvation. Baptism is not required for a person to be saved. It is a public declaration of faith—the next step of obedience.

Do you have questions about how to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Learn how to know Jesus.

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

A public declaration of faith. Baptism is an opportunity to show others that you have accepted Christ and are now walking with Him. It symbolizes what took place in your heart at the time of your salvation:

• You accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
• You shared in his death and resurrection. (This is illustrated by going under the water and rising up again—you let your old life of sin die, then began a new life.)
• You were symbolically washed clean and your sins were forgiven by Jesus' death on the cross.
  
  

WHY DOES NEWSPRING CHURCH FULLY IMMERSE DURING BAPTISM?

Jesus modeled immersion for us in the Bible. We believe Scripture shows that Jesus modeled immersion for us as the way to publicly declare our faith in Him. All the baptisms in the Bible indicate that those being baptized entered the water. In fact, the word baptism literally means "to dip, to plunge, to submerge, or to immerse."
 

DOES NEWSPRING CHURCH BAPTIZE INFANTS?

No. We understand Scripture to teach that only professing believers qualify for baptism. Baptism does not make you a believer… it is a public declaration that you already believe.