Elim Church Centre, Loughborough

Elim Church Centre - Loughborough

Why Baptism by Immersion?

A study of 2000 years of history after the birth of the Church at Pentecost will reveal that Water Baptism is a defining doctrine. For some it is part of christening and happens when you are a baby; for others it is experienced by total immersion in water as an adult following conversion.

Some who are followers of Jesus have been raised in Christian homes and brought up in the Christian faith of their parents. This may have resulted in their being christened as babies with Confirmation during adolescence at the point of a personal faith in Jesus Christ. Some may have been anointed (sprinkled) with water at the point of acceptance into local church membership.

The Elim Pentecostal Church takes a clear stand that those who are received into this fellowship as members will have been Baptised in Water by full immersion, this being a significant personal event in the life of a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, himself was baptised and the book of Acts records it as part of the salvation experience. Salvation deals with the past. Baptism is a sign of commitment to follow Jesus as Lord from this point on in addition to believing Him to be our personal Saviour. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit may precede or follow baptism in water; and some testify to being baptised in the Holy Spirit during water baptism.

Our statement of fundamental beliefs says: We believe in the baptism of believers in water in obedience to the command of Christ. A believer is one who has come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and asked Him to be their personal Lord and Saviour. We see full immersion of believers in water as being the Biblical standard for Baptism.

The Significance of a Baptismal Service

It will be a memorable, solemn and significant event in the life of the Believer.
It will be an opportunity to publicly confess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a sign of being washed clean and of sins forgiven.
As a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ you become identified with Him by death, burial and resurrection - being immersed symbolises that experience.
It proclaims death to the old life and the beginning of a new life in Christ Jesus.
It shows that as a follower of Jesus Christ and in an act of obedience, you choose to be publicly and fully immersed in water which in turn becomes a witness to others.
It proclaims a higher resolve to live a righteous life style.
It is a time of celebration and thanksgiving, giving all glory to Jesus Christ.

Some verses about Water Baptism:

Matt 28:18-19 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, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Rom 6:4 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.

Revealing God * Releasing in God * Relating in God * Reaping for God