Baptism
What is Baptism?
Baptism is an important step of obedience that shows others we have personally trusted Jesus for our salvation. Jesus was baptized when He was on the earth, and we do this to follow His example. When Christians are baptized, they are submerged under water to identify with the death and burial of Jesus and raised out of the water to identify with His resurrection.
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We believe that water baptism is a public declaration of three important things: you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are beginning a changed life in Christ, and you are part of a new family.
Baptism Facts:
Those who are baptized are following Jesus’ example and obeying His command.
- “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” —Matthew 3:16–17
- “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” —Matthew 28:18–20
Water baptism is a public declaration of three very important things:
- You are a follower of Jesus Christ.
“Those who accepted his message were baptized.” —Acts 2:41a - You are beginning a changed life in Christ.
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” —Romans 6:4 - You are part of a new family.
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” —Galatians 3:26–27
Your baptism should have signified you becoming a follower of Jesus, beginning a changed life, and uniting with a new family. If your baptism did not reflect this change of life, then you should be baptized again.
We Dedicate Verses Baptize Children
Why We Don’t Baptize Very Young Children (e.g., Ages 3–5)
1. Baptism is a Personal Declaration of Faith—Not a Parental Decision
• Baptism, according to Scripture, is a public profession of faith in Jesus—a personal choice made by someone who:
o Understands the gospel
o Has made a decision to follow Jesus
o Knows what baptism symbolizes (dying to sin, being raised to new life)
A child who is 3–5 years old is not developmentally capable of making this kind of faith decision on their own with clarity and understanding.
2. We Practice Baby Dedications Instead
• For infants and toddlers, we offer baby dedications, which is biblical and appropriate. o Baby dedication is a commitment by the parents to raise their child in the ways
of God.
o It follows the example of Hannah dedicating Samuel or Mary and Joseph
presenting Jesus at the temple.
Baptism is about a person’s faith. Dedication is about a parent’s commitment. They’re not the same.
3. What About “Suffer the Little Children…”? (Matthew 19:14)
• Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me…” But here’s the context:
o He was blessing them, not baptizing them.
o This moment reflects the value of children in God’s kingdom, not a model for
baptizing toddlers.
That verse supports love, welcome, and inclusion—not altering the meaning and intent of baptism.
4. We Baptize Children—When They’re Ready
• We DO baptize kids—but only when:
o They are old enough to understand salvation
o They can clearly explain their decision in their own words o Their desire is genuine, not forced or copied
This is usually around age 7–8 and up, but we will assess each case individually through conversation and pastoral guidance.
Have Questions?
Contact us at office@wearehopcity.cc.