Baptism is one of the most visible things a Christian ever does, and one of the most misunderstood. It does not save us, nor is it merely a religious formality. Baptism is something Christ commands: a believer publicly identifying with Jesus and declaring, “I belong to Him.”
Baptism is an ordinance Jesus Christ gave to His church. When a person repents and believes the gospel, they are immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is not complicated. It is also not empty.
Baptism pictures something real. Paul writes, “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” (Romans 6:4). Going under the water and coming back up pictures being buried with Christ and raised to new life in Him.
But baptism does not save you. Christ saves sinners by grace through faith, not through water. Baptism does not wash away sin, complete your salvation, or add anything to what Christ has already done. It is the public confession of a believer who belongs to Jesus.
For more about the convictions that shape our life together, read what we believe.
Not every church baptizes the same way, or at the same point in a person's life. At Freedom, we baptize by immersion after someone has professed faith in Christ because we believe this reflects the pattern of the New Testament.
The pattern we see in the New Testament is that people hear the gospel, believe, and are then baptized (Acts 2:37–41; Acts 8:36–38). Immersion also fits the meaning baptism portrays. Going under the water and coming back up gives visible expression to being buried with Christ and raised with Him (Colossians 2:12).
This is also why we do not baptize infants. In the New Testament, baptism belongs to those who repent and believe in Christ. So we wait to baptize until someone can personally profess faith in Him. If you were baptized as an infant, that raises a real and fair question about whether you should be baptized now as a believer. See “Questions about baptism” below.
Baptism only makes sense in light of the gospel. If you are still working through what it means to trust Christ, start with the gospel. Everything on this page assumes you've already covered that ground.
Once someone has believed, baptism ordinarily comes next. Baptism publicly identifies a believer with Christ; membership identifies that believer with a particular local church. That is why baptism ordinarily comes before membership at Freedom.
No. Christ saves you by grace through faith in Him, not through water. Baptism adds nothing to what Christ has already done. It is a public declaration that you belong to Christ because you have trusted in Him, not the thing that makes you His.
Baptism follows faith, so an infant baptism, however sincere the intentions behind it, does not fit the pattern Scripture describes. If you have since trusted in Christ, we believe you should be baptized as a believer. We would be glad to talk with you about why and answer any questions you have.
The same principle applies. In Scripture, baptism follows repentance and faith in Christ. If you were baptized before you actually trusted Him, we believe you should be baptized now as a believer. We would be glad to talk with you about what that means and answer any questions you have.
We would love to talk with you and your child. We take your child's profession of faith seriously and don't rush baptism; a conversation with a pastor or elder helps us do that well. Our Families page explains more about how we think about children and faith at Freedom.
That is a fair thing to feel, and it is exactly what the conversation below is for. You do not need to have every question answered before you reach out. Starting the conversation does not commit you to being baptized.
No. You do not have to be a member of Freedom to be baptized. What matters is a credible profession of faith in Christ. Baptism ordinarily comes before membership, not after it.
If you have trusted Christ and want to be baptized, here is what that actually looks like.
Baptism is part of a larger life of following Christ with His church. If you are still considering what it means to trust Jesus, read the gospel. To learn more about life at Freedom, explore membership and what we believe.
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Freedom Bible Church exists to make disciples who love upward, inward, and outward.
We gather each Lord's Day to worship Christ through His Word and encourage one another in the gospel. Whether you're exploring Christianity or looking for a church home, we'd be glad to welcome you.
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