Baptism
Celebrate your life in Christ!
At Revive Wesleyan, we believe water baptism is a celebration of your decision to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Just as the symbols of the wedding and wedding ring are a declaration of a marriage covenant, water baptism is the outward declaration of the covenant an individual has made to be a Christ-follower. As your church, we would love to help you take this step on your faith journey.
OUR NEXT BAPTISMS: August
If you wish to be baptized, please fill out the appropriate registration form. (Child refers to children in grade 5 and younger, Youth is middle and high schoolers, Adult is 18+).
Frequently Asked Questions About Baptism:
Why should I be baptized?
Jesus commanded His followers to be baptized as an outward symbol of an inward commitment. This action puts the world on notice that a person is leaving their old life behind and embracing the life God has for them. See Matthew 3:13-17, Matthew 28: 18-20 & Romans 6:1-5
Does salvation come through baptism?
The act of going into the water is not our salvation. Jesus made a way to eternal life for us through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
Is baptism a requirement for salvation?
No. We do not believe baptism is required for salvation. Jesus says in Matthew 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The Apostle Paul says in Romans 10:9, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." These are the requirements for salvation: that you believe that Jesus is Lord. Baptism is what we are called to do after we make that decision. It publicly lets those around us know that we identify with Jesus as our Savior. Baptism is a beautiful way to share our story with those around us, but is not a requirement for salvation.
Am I “good enough” to be baptized?
Baptism is a wonderful way for us to experience God’s overwhelming grace. In Acts 8:12, we see that the moment people believed, they were baptized: “But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” The moment we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord of our life, we are cleansed by the blood He shed for us on the cross. He welcomes us despite our brokenness. Baptism is not about being perfect or good enough, but a public declaration that you have surrendered your brokenness to Jesus as Lord, in hopes of becoming more and more like Him each day.
Can I use baptism as a testimony of healing or breakthrough in my life?
The intent of baptism is to publicly declare your faith in Jesus Christ. This does not wear out; your baptism does not expire. There will still be seasons of life in which you may feel distant from God, struggle with a recurring sin, or find yourself lonely or depressed. These experiences do not negate or erase your baptism or your salvation. If you have chosen to follow Jesus as your Savior and have consciously decided to be baptized, you do NOT need to be rebaptized every time you experience a mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual victory in your life. We believe in ONE baptism as the Apostle Paul clearly states this in Ephesians 4:4-6:
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Do I need to be fully submersed when being baptized?
No. We practice full submersion at Revive Wesleyan but do not believe it is required. Depending on the circumstance (e.g., a medical condition, pacemaker, or wheelchair), we may sprinkle or pour water over an individual’s head instead.
The reason full submersion is a such a beautiful symbol is that it portrays the individual fully dying to themselves as they are fully submersed in the water and experiencing new life in Jesus as they come out of the water. Baptism is publicly declaring that Jesus is your Savior. This means that you understand that you are sharing in Christ’s death as well as His resurrection.
Jesus blood covers ALL of our sins, so covering ALL of our body is a powerful way to demonstrate that. However, it’s the public declaration of faith in Jesus that is important in baptism. Full submersion, pouring, and sprinkling can all still be done publicly.
If I was baptized as an infant, should I be baptized again?
We do not believe you need to be baptized as an adult if you were already baptized as an infant. We believe in ONE baptism as the Apostle Paul clearly states in Ephesians 4:4-6:
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
However, we understand the struggle that people have with the fact that they did not decide to be baptized for themselves as an infant. At Revive, we practice “affirmation of baptism.” Part of the reason we are baptized is to tell others of our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of our life. An affirmation of baptism gives individuals the opportunity to publicly declare their faith in Jesus without diminishing the importance of their baptism as an infant.
Do we baptize infants?
Whereas the Wesleyan denomination isn’t against infant baptisms, we do not perform them at Revive Wesleyan. We do offer child dedications. Child dedications give parents the opportunity to publicly stand before the congregation and declare that they intend to, with the help of God and the church, raise their child to one day make a decision for Jesus on their own. A public prayer of blessing is also given over the child as part of a child dedication. As the child grows up and makes a conscious decision to follow Jesus as their Savior, we would then baptize them. If you are a parent of children birth – age 4 and interested in child dedication, visit our Kids Ministry page.
For children who express a desire to be baptized, these are some of the questions we would ask them to help discern if they are ready:
1. Why is Baptism important to you?
2. What did Jesus do for us/you?
3. What happens when you believe in Jesus?
4. When did you accept Jesus as your savior?
5. What does having God in your life mean to you?
6. Who has helped you grow in your faith?
7. How does being a Christ follower make you a part of His story?