What Is Baptism All About?
A simple definition of baptism is, “An outward sign of an inward change.“ There are many verses in the Bible that talk about baptism.
In Acts 2:38-39, the Bible says:
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away – all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
Acts 19:4-5 says:
Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Baptism does not save us. You can only be saved by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. But God designed our journey of faith so that when we put our faith in Christ, one of the next steps we take is making a public statement of our faith and celebrating the new life He has given us, through baptism.
What Does Baptism Signify?
- You are publicly identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
- You have turned from your old life of sin and God has given you new life in Jesus.
- You’re “going public” with your relationship with Jesus.
When Is The Next Baptism?
Check the church calendar for the next baptism date (after every service)!
Baptism Registration
Here are more common questions about Baptism at Crossroads:
What happens at a baptism?
Everyone who is going to be baptized meets at the Crossroads baptismal, also known as the Family Room Fountain. You will meet a pastor or ministry leader there and they will explain where you can change your clothes and how to make your way into the waters of baptism.
Once in the water, our pastors will pray with you, then lay hands behind your head and shoulder to help you go under the water. When you come up out of the water, please know that it is fully acceptable to express your feelings. This is a very emotional time. There is nothing more beautiful than people cheering and joining in with you as you celebrate your faith in Jesus. You will then leave the water, dry off, watch and rejoice with the other people who are getting baptized. We will send you a certificate of your baptism to commemorate your commitment to Jesus.
What should I wear when I'm baptized?
Changing rooms are nearby. Bring a change of clothes, a towel, and a plastic bag for your wet clothes. We encourage women to wear shorts and a dark top with a swimsuit underneath. Men should wear shorts and dark t-shirt. Baptism is designed to draw attention to Jesus and His work in your life and that’s why we encourage people to wear the outfits listed above.
Can I be baptized together with my family members?
Of course, we encourage it! If each one of your family members has professed faith in Jesus Christ and understands the meaning of baptism, we encourage you to be baptized at the same time. Young children who want to be baptized should understand what they are doing, and we ask that they would attend our KidsFaith class through our Crossroads Kids ministry. These are typically the Sunday before the Baptism date.
It’s important to remember that baptism is a personal statement of faith, not a religious tradition. If God has placed it on your heart to get baptized, don’t delay your baptism while you wait on other people in your family to accept Jesus. You will delay your own obedience to God and put pressure on your family members who aren’t ready to trust Jesus yet.
Who should I invite?
We hope you will invite your friends and family to see you get baptized. Nothing is more important to us than our relationship with Jesus, and this is a great opportunity to celebrate it. We have found that even those in your family and circle of friends who are not religious, or who have not made a commitment to Christ, are usually happy to attend and support you.
What if I have special needs?
Please let our Pastor or ministry leader know when you attend the Baptism, and they will figure out what will work best for your special circumstances.
