Baptism

Baptism is for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ’s atoning work and become His disciple. In obedience to Christ’s command and as a testimony of faith, a believer should be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:18-20).

Water baptism symbolizes a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection (Rom 6:3-4). It signifies that a former way of life has been put to death and depicts a release from the mastery of sin. Lakeshore practices and teaches believer’s baptism.

It is important to bear in mind a few helpful truths regarding what baptism is not and does not do:

1. BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE. Baptism does not offer the believer saving grace but rather sanctifying grace. We are more conformed to the image of Christ as we obey Him in the call to be baptized.

2. BAPTISM IS NOT “NECESSARY” FOR SALVATION. Without in any way diminishing the duty and delight of baptism for a believer, we must also warn against thinking which suggests that salvation is dependent upon baptism. The gospel is one of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone.

How Should A Person Be Baptized?

Though other denominations and theological traditions baptize by pouring or sprinkling, Lakeshore City Church practices baptism by immersion.

We do so in light of the following considerations:

1. The Greek word βαπτίζω (baptizo) literally means to plunge, submerge or immerse.

Our English word baptism is a transliteration of the Greek baptizo. Baptizo was used in Greek literature to describe the act of immersing something in water or another liquid. It later became a technical term that referred specifically to the Christian ordinance of baptism.

2. The representation of union in Christ’s death and resurrection is best expressed through immersion.

Whether buried below or above ground, the symbolism of burial is still that of being placed under something. Likewise, resurrection is accomplished by coming out of something (whether grave or tomb). Immersion best symbolizes this reality by actually placing the believer under the water and bringing them out. In addition, it is interesting to note the use of water to symbolize judgment in the Scriptures (e.g. the flood of Genesis 6-7 and the destruction of Egypt in the Red Sea of Exodus 14). Thus, by passing through the waters of baptism, the believer expresses trust that God’s judgment has been satisfied by Christ.

COLOSSIANS 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

ROMANS 6:3–4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

3. The surrounding context of baptisms in the Scriptures suggests baptism by immersion.

MATTHEW 3:16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him…

MARK 1:5, 10 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins…And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

JOHN 3:23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized…

ACTS 8:38–39 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Prior To Baptism

We ask those wishing to be baptized to participate in a baptism class in which we explain the gospel, core Christian beliefs, and our theology of baptism.

More Information

If you are interested in being baptized, or would like more information, please fill out the short form below and we will have someone contact you.