OPEN DOOR CHRISTIAN CENTER
WATER BAPTISM GUIDELINES
We are excited that you are taking the step of water baptism. We want you to enjoy the moment and suggest that you invite your family and friends to this joyous occasion.
We would like to take this moment to share with you some reminders that will help you be prepared for your baptism:
WHAT TO WEAR:
Make sure that the clothes you wear will not get damaged or become transparent when wet. Since you will be in water, we recommend wearing your swimming trunks or bathing suit underneath your clothes. Please arrive in your baptism attire as you will not have time to change before the baptism.
1. Men should wear pants or trousers and a dark shirt (no white or thin T-shirts please).
2. Women should wear dark pants and a dark shirt or top made of a heavier material (no white or thin T-shirts please). The woman’s shirt or top should be tucked in or secured in such a way that it will not ride up in the water. The shirt should also be high enough at the neck to avoid being revealing when wet
WHAT TO BRING:
- Bring a change of clothing along with a towel, hair dryer, etc
BEFORE THE BAPTISM:
- At 9:45 am on the morning of the baptism we will all meet in the Children’s Church area to go over any extra details or questions.
- Just before the baptism remove all personal items, that could be lost or damages, such as glasses, contacts, billfolds, watches, loose jewelry, pocket change, etc.
Please find attached some scriptural reference on water baptism. I hope you will find them helpful as a reference, and that they will make your baptism more meaningful.
This is an exciting time for you as you follow Jesus’ command to be baptized in water.
We are proud of you!
Pastor David & Everyone at Open Door
Some Biblical References for Water Baptism
Baptism is an act of obedience.
We baptize new believers in obedience to Jesus’ command.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20 (NASB)
We call these verses “The Great Commission.” In them, Jesus commands His followers to take the message of the good news about Jesus into the entire world. The command to baptize followers of Jesus is a very important part of this command.
Baptism is an act of discipleship.
We baptize new believers because Jesus was Himself baptized by His cousin John. When we are baptized, it’s an act of following Jesus, an act of discipleship. This is what discipleship means—to follow Jesus.
Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Matthew 3:13–17 (NASB)
Baptism was the practice of the early church.
When we obey the Lord by following Him in baptism, we are following the pattern of the early church we find in the book of Acts. Acts is a historical book in the New Testament, which recounts the story of the first followers of Jesus. The following Scriptures are some of the examples found in the New Testament of Christians being baptized: Acts 2:36–38; 2:41; 8:36–38; 10:47–48; 16:30–34.
Baptism symbolizes the death of our old life.
Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, yet baptism is more than symbolic. It is a spiritually significant work of living faith, whereby we bury the “old man” (Romans 6:6). We are included in Jesus’ suffering and triumph when we first believe. When we are baptized, we are baptized into Jesus’ death and the waters of baptism become for us a watery grave. The person we used to be exists no more! The old “us” has been buried!
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:1–7 (NASB)
