What We Teach About Baptism

Believer’s Baptism

At Gateway Bible Church we teach what is commonly referred to as a “Believer’s Baptism”.  This means that a person is baptized after they believe and come to faith in Jesus Christ.  "Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—about three thousand in all."  Acts 2:41 (NLT)  “. . . many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.”  Acts 18:8 (NIV)

An Outward Sign of God’s Grace

The Bible tells us that baptism is an outward sign of an inward work of grace.  Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, as well as the death, burial, and resurrection of the new believer in Christ.  “…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  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 6:3-4 (NIV)

An Ordinance of Christ

At Gateway we teach that baptism is an “ordnance”, a ceremony ordained by Christ to be carried out for everyone who has believed in and has received Jesus Christ as their Savior.  “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.”  Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

Mode of Baptism

At Gateway, our conviction and practice is to baptized through the mode of immersion.  We do accept those in partnership (membership) who have experienced a believer’s baptism through different modes (e.g., sprinkling and pouring).

Children’s Baptism

At Gateway we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them.  On behalf of our parents and their children we perform a “Children’s Dedication” ceremony.  This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on the behalf of the child.  The parents promise to raise their child in the faith and help lead him or her to their own personal confession of Christ at that time when the child can respond to God’s grace on their own behalf.

BAPTISM is…

Believing in Christ (Acts 2:41, 18:8)                                                                                               
Act of Obedience (Acts 2:38)
Presenting Yourself to God (Romans 12:1-2)
Testimony to the World (2 Timothy 1:8)
Identifying with Christ (Colossians 3:3)
Symbol of God’s Grace (Romans 6:3-4)
Member of God’s Family (1 Corinthians 12:27)

If you would like to be baptized or want more information on baptism, please complete the online baptism form and send it to us at your earliest convenience. 

We are currently scheduling baptismal services on the second Sunday of each month at 2:30 p.m.  This is subject to change depending on facility availability.