Be Baptized

Be Baptized

We believe baptism is an expression of our faith and an essential to discipleship.

What We Believe

Baptism is an outward declaration of an internal change in our hearts. Jesus Himself was baptized (Matthew 3) and commanded His disciples to baptize those who place their faith in Him as well (Matthew 28). While Baptism holds no power for saving us, it is a declaration and proof that we have died to our sins in Jesus, and have been raised to live a new life in His resurrection power. Baptism is a powerful testimony for those who have experienced the life change that comes from meeting Jesus.

Baby Dedication

Parent Dedication is an important milestone for our families. During weekend services in May and October, brand-new moms and dads make the commitment to raise up their kids in Jesus-centered homes. Our church promises, in-turn, to walk with them along the way as they raise their children well into adulthood.

Baptism Class for Kids

Here we nurture new faith and establish a strong foundation for your child as he or she begins the exciting adventure of following Jesus. At the end of the course, there will be an opportunity for baptism and communion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I be baptized?

In the Bible, baptism was the consistent response for people who trusted in Jesus.  When people accepted Christ as Savior in New Testament times, they believed in Him (Acts 16:31), repented of their sins (Acts 2:38), confessed Christ as Lord (Matthew 16:16-18), Romans 10:9-10) and were baptized (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38- 41, Acts 8:36-38).  Our role as Christians is to teach others to do the same things the Apostles taught to the early church.

Is baptism essential for salvation?

The Bible teaches that Christ alone saved (Acts 4:12). We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Baptism, like repentence is a response to our newfound faith (Acts 2:38). The actions, including baptism, do not save us – but each action is mentioned in Scripture as part of becoming a Christian. Any step taken is the response of faith, not an effort to earn our salvation.

What do I need to know to be baptized?

You need to realize only that you are a sinner in need of saving and that Jesus is your Savior. As you grow in Christ you’ll learn more about baptism and other teachings of the Bible.

What am I committing to?

You are committing to following Jesus with your life. That doesn’t mean you’ll never mess up.  We all do.  But, when you do, you’ll re-align yourself and keep following.

Should infants be baptized?

In order to answer this question, we must first understand the nature of human beings. First, are we born with the mark of sin on our lives? Or do we have a “clean slate” until we are old enough to understand when we are acting contrary to God’s commands? At Ben Davis we believe all mankind has a sinful nature – we all have the tendency to sin. However, we believe that a just God does not hold us accountable for sin until we are old enough to understand when we are in rebellion against Him. When someone is old enough to recognize their sinful nature, we encourage them to accept Christ, who died on the cross, paying the price for their sins. We realize many parents have had their newborn child baptized, making a public declaration of their intent to raise the child to know God. Although this is admirable, we don’t believe a newborn baby is capable of choosing to sin – an act of willful disobedience to God – so baptism isn’t necessary. Adult baptism is not a sign of disrespect for what your parents did. In fact, it can be seen as a fulfillment of their prayers. Be thankful for the heritage of concerned parents, but don’t neglect to make your own personal pledge of faith to God through baptism.

Why do you baptize by immersion?

Let’s look at how the word baptism is used in the Bible. The original language of the New Testament was Greek. When Paul and other authors wrote of baptism, they always used the Greek word that meant “to dip or immerse.” There are other Greek words that mean “to sprinkle or pour,” and the authors would have used those words if they had intended to include other modes of baptism. The preference of baptism by immersion can be seen in Acts 8:38 when Philip baptized a man from Ethiopia. After the man expressed his faith in Jesus Christ, they went down into the water – an action not necessary if Philip were baptizing him by sprinkling. Immersion was the commonly accepted form of baptism in the church for hundreds of years. Only in the later centuries did men begin to substitute different modes of baptism.

Next Steps

Read the Bible

Discover God through the pages of Scripture – His living and active Word.

Get Help

Find help and hope in hard times from a team of caring and trained ministry professionals.

Be Baptized

Declare that you have placed your faith in Jesus by being baptized.

Join a Group

Discover the true and caring community that exists in our weekly Neighborhood Groups.

Serve on a Team

Get involved with the mission and ministry of God at Ben Davis by joining a ministry team.

Give

Help us continue to share the hope of Jesus in our city and the whole world.