WHY DO I NEED TO BE SAVED?

God created man and was pleased.- Genesis 1:26-31

Satan Tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God.- Genesis 3:1-4

Their choice to sin separated them from God.- Genesis 3:5-10, 23

Sin causes eternal separation from God. - Romans 6:23

WHO HAS SINNED?

We have all sinned. - Romans 3:23

GOD HAS A PLAN!

He sent us His Son, Jesus to save us. - John 3:16-17

Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins. - Hebrews 9:26-28, Romans 5:8

Jesus conquered death by rising again. - II Timothy 1:10

WHAT CAN I DO?

Salvation can not be earned by the things one does. - Ephesians 2:8-9

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

BELIEVE that Jesus is your Savior - Acts 16:31, John 3:16

REPENT of (or turn away from) your sins. Acts 3:19

CONFESS in Jesus as the Lord (owner) of your life. Romans 10:9

Be BAPTIZED (immersed). Acts 2:38

LIVE a life becoming like Jesus Christ. - Colossians 1:10-14

GOD HAS A PROMISE! IF WE OBEY HIM

I can be forgiven of sin!- I John 1:9

I can be saved - Romans 10:9

I can have God living in me. - I John 4:14-15

I can have a promise of living eternally with God. - John 5:24

The Christian Churches and Churches of Christ are often know as “the church that baptizes people” or as putting great deal of emphasis on baptism. Both beliefs are true. However, anyone who thinks it is the only thing we believe in is mistaken. Baptism is simply a part of the plan of salvation you have read above.



But why do our churches insist that baptism is essential for salvation?
Well, after looking at the entirety of scripture, we found that there is a connection. Baptism is one of the commands Jesus gives in the Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20. It has been described as: washing away sin (Acts 22:16), for the remission of sin and gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), putting on the likeness of Christ (Galatians 3:27), and Jesus said it was part of salvation (Mark 16:16, John 3:5-6). In the book of Acts, there are nine times when a person or group of people convert or accept Christ: 2:41, 8:12-13, 8:36, 9:18, 10:48, 16:15, 16:33, 18:8, and 19:5. In each case, they are baptized. Paul also tells us in Romans 6:3-5 that baptism unites us in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

Jesus was baptized Himself, He commanded His disciples to baptize, they did, and we will be faithful too.

Why do our churches immerse instead of sprinkling or pouring?
Baptism is simply the English form of the Greek word “Baptisma” which means immersion or submersion. And if baptism is to unite us with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection as mentioned in Romans 6:3-5, what better way to connect with the burial than to be actually buried in water.

Does baptism save you?
Immersion in water is obviously not what saves us. Everyone has been in water before. It is the blood of Jesus Christ which saves us from eternal death. Baptism is an act of obedience, a way of showing that you have accepted Christ as Lord, and identifying yourself with Him. The act of immersion itself is meaningless without Christ.