What is baptism?

In the last words recorded by the apostle Matthew, Jesus tells his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The call to be baptized is something that comes directly from the mouth of Jesus.

We see important symbolism related to baptism in the Bible. Baptism signifies the end of our old life and the beginning of a new way of life in Christ. We identify personally with the death and burial of Christ when we are put under the water and with his resurrection to eternal life when we come up out of the water. Maybe most importantly, baptism is a public declaration to the world around us that we belong to Jesus, that we serve him as the Lord of our lives, and that we are not ashamed to say it publicly. For those who have trouble “going public” with their faith it is a great opportunity to stand up publicly for Him.

Baptisms happen at The Grove every few weeks. We ask that everyone meets individually with a pastor from our staff or in a group setting after the Saturday night and Sunday morning service prior to their baptism. Call 951-571-9090 x 2242 if you would like to schedule a baptism counseling appointment.

Do I need to do or say anything at my baptism?

At The Grove we ask each person that is baptized to share a short testimony about why they have decided to be baptized. Your baptism is a chance to let God use you to draw other people closer to Him. Ask God to help you decide what you should share, realizing that your words might be an encouragement to believers who are following Jesus, and they might also move someone that is far from God closer to Him as they identify with the things that you share about your own journey.

Do I know enough to be baptized?

Oftentimes new believers delay being baptized. They have a sense that they don’t know enough about being a Christian to be baptized. Every Biblical account of baptism we see taking place in the early church happens immediately after the decision to follow Christ. The only thing you must know in order to be baptized is that you have placed your faith in Christ and you are committed to following Him. If you are sure of that, then you are ready to be baptized. Get baptized at your first opportunity.

What if I was baptized as an infant?

Baptism is something that believers are commanded to do one time. The decision to place our faith in Christ is a personal decision that a person must make for themselves. We cannot choose Jesus for anyone else, no matter how much we love them, not even for our children. And because babies are not yet able to understand the gospel, or to place their faith in Christ, it is not appropriate for them to be baptized. There are no examples of babies being baptized in the Bible. If you were baptized as an infant and have since decided to place your faith in Christ, it is appropriate for you to be baptized again. This time your baptism will proclaim your own decision to follow Christ, not the decision or best hopes of someone else.