What It Means to Be Baptized
The Bible tells us that there is a celebration in heaven for every person who entrusts their life to Jesus. But God did not intend for us to keep this a secret between us and heaven. He wants us to let the whole world know, and that starts with publicly declaring our decision to follow Jesus.
Baptism simply means to be immersed. When we go into the water we are symbolically aligning ourselves with the death and burial of Jesus. This represents that the old life we lived before Jesus is dead and being left behind us. Baptism is a symbolic ritual that allows us to share with our friends, family, and church that the death and resurrection of Jesus has forever changed us.
"A Public Declaration of Our Personal Decision to Follow Jesus"
Baptisms at Daybreak
At Daybreak, our church family is excited to celebrate your commitment to your new life in Christ. We have begun celebrating baptisms every Sunday, allowing people to share their stories with the church.
If you have questions about baptisms, please take a look at the FAQ's below or join us for our Baptism Class. We will hold a Baptism Class monthly to share about the significance of this step in your faith and answer any questions you might have.
What God's Word Says
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, 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.
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.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Baptism FAQ
Have questions about baptism? Check out the most frequently asked questions below.
What does baptism mean?
Baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo, which means: “to immerse or dip under the water, to cleanse by submerging”. This word refers to permanent change.
A symbolic representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, illustrating that we are putting our sins to death and rising into a new life that can only be found in Jesus.
An outward declaration of the inward changes in a believer’s life.
An act of faith after salvation, and an act of obedience in response to Jesus’s command to follow His example and be baptized (Matt. 3:13-17).
A public declaration of your commitment to Jesus and a public confession of your faith in Jesus. It connects us to the body of Christ and joins us with other believers.
By confirming our position in Christ, baptism also affirms the blessing of God in our life. When we affirm that we are His children, we receive the blessings of our Father (Eph. 1:3-5).
Why is baptism important?
Baptism is not an act of salvation, because we are saved by faith in Jesus alone. However, baptism is an important step in a believer’s walk with Jesus. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples a list of instructions for how to proceed in finishing the work He began on earth. We call this the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20).
Baptism is an integral part of your faith journey. It is a step of obedience that takes place between the first moment of salvation and the life-long process of maturing in your faith and conforming to the image of Jesus.
When should I be baptized?
As soon as you have made the decision to believe in Jesus and follow Him for the rest of your life, you are ready to be baptized! It is a personal decision, but we encourage you to do so without delay. In the Bible, we see that new believers in the book of Acts were baptized immediately following salvation (Acts 10:34-48). Therefore, you are ready to be baptized as soon as you understand what baptism means and are ready to declare that you want to follow Jesus forever.
Do I have to share my story?
While it may seem intimidating to share your story during your water baptism, the testimony is a very significant and very important part of your water baptism experience. In Revelation 12:11, the Bible says that “we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.”
Therefore, the baptism story is an important opportunity to share about what God is doing in your life. Your testimony has the power to encourage and give hope to others, building an atmosphere of faith in the room in a special and unique way. Sharing your story publicly is an avenue for more freedom in your life, and an avenue of possible breakthrough for someone else in the room.
We do not want you to feel nervous or anxious about what to share or how to share it, because we have a Baptism team that is ready and happy to help you through this process. Our goal is to give you a safe and positive experience sharing your story.
What if I am nervous about sharing my story?
The nerves that you might be feeling are completely normal! Please feel encouraged and strengthened to move forward with your decision to be baptized without letting any doubt or fear that you aren’t ready yet seep in. Most people get nervous, but God is always bigger than the nerves and He faithfully shows up. He gives us every ounce of peace, strength, courage, and confidence needed to be obedient and share.
If you are feeling any nerves or hesitation, remember that you have authority over those feelings because God will fight for you (Exodus 14:14). God has given the gift of peace, and He will not withhold this from you!
There is a direct connection between our obedience and our love for God. God rewards obedience, especially when you step out of your comfort zone in faith. His great love for you will cast away your fears (1 John 4:18). Therefore, be confident that His perfect peace is going to strengthen you and sustain you.
Do I have to get baptized at a weekend service?
Because of baptism’s significance as a public declaration and the important impact of sharing your story with others, our weekend services are the best opportunity to get baptized at Daybreak.
“Openly declare that Jesus is Lord…it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)
Can my child be baptized?
Children 5th grade and under are required to take a baptism class with our Kid’s Pastor, Jim Kothe prior to being baptized to ensure they fully understand the importance of this decision in their lives.
Here at Daybreak we do not baptize infants because they are too young to confess personal belief in Jesus, but we do hold Child Dedications where families with children under 18 months old are prayed over as they choose to dedicate their little one(s) to the Lord.
Child Dedication
If your interest is for your infant under 18 months old, please sign up for our next Baby Dedication Here. At Daybreak we do not baptize infants and young children. Instead, infants, too young to understand and confess their personal belief in Jesus Christ, are dedicated to the Lord. This ceremony takes place during a Sunday service.
"Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with Him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives."
- Romans 6:3-4
What To Do Next
Congratulations! This is the first day of the rest of your new life in Jesus, and it is filled with the hope and promise that your best days are ahead of you.
Attend Service
Keep attending our weekend services!
Read Your Bible
Make a commitment to read your Bible and meditate on God’s Word.
Stay Open
Allow His Word to continually transform you into the image of Jesus.
Pray Regularly
Start developing a prayer life of constant communication and connection with God.
Join a Life Group
Join a Group to start growing in a supportive community of Godly friendships.