Baptism & Confirmation
Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus commanded us to "make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19).
Along with the Lord's Supper, our Lord Jesus has given us baptism as a sacrament: an outward sign of an inward grace. It's more than merely symbolic - it is a sign and seal of our belonging to Christ and the benefits of his promises to us in the gospel.
After conversion, baptism is the most spiritually significant moment of our lives.
What is Baptism?
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A Seal of God's PromisesAs our new covenant circumcision, baptism confirms God's eternal promises in Jesus to make his people righteous blameless.
Colossians 2:11-12; Genesis 17:1-14 -
A Sign of our BelongingAs we are baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we are joined into the body of Christ with every other believer.
Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 -
A Symbol of WashingThe water that washes over us is a picture of our sins being washed away, our death and resurrection in Christ, and our new birth in him.
Hebrews 9:13-14; 1 Peter 3:18-22 -
A Strengthening of FaithBy being baptised into Jesus' death, made alive in him and clothed with him, our faith is strengthened to no longer live as slaves to sin.
Romans 6:1-14; Galatians 3:27-4:7
If you're someone who follows Jesus and calls him your Lord and Saviour, baptism is for you.
In fact, it should be our first response to the gospel, "Repent and be baptised, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38). In that sense, there's no such thing as an unbaptised Christian.
In fact, it should be our first response to the gospel, "Repent and be baptised, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38). In that sense, there's no such thing as an unbaptised Christian.
Yes, we love baptising the children of Christian parents! Throughout the Bible, God sees the children of Israel and the church as part of his people and the recipients of his gospel.
In the Old Testament, God extended his gospel promises to the children of Israel, and he sealed that promise through circumcision (17:10). Every Israelite man both old and young was circumcised as a sign not of our faith but of God's faithfulness.
And it's no different in the New Testament. What circumcision was to the children of Israel, baptism is to the children of the church. It isn't a sign of our faith but a picture of God's promises. It's an outward, permanent and visible reminder of what God has done for us in Jesus.
That's why we love baptising our kids because we want them to know that they belong and we want them one day to believe! And when that day comes, we ask those children - now adults - to outwardly confirm their personal trust in Jesus.
We acknowledge that some Christians prefer to dedicate their child and we respect that decision as God has entrusted the primary care children to their parents. So we happily baptise or dedicate a child based on their parents' convictions. Either way, we want to celebrate Jesus' heart for kids "because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Mt 19:14).
In the Old Testament, God extended his gospel promises to the children of Israel, and he sealed that promise through circumcision (17:10). Every Israelite man both old and young was circumcised as a sign not of our faith but of God's faithfulness.
And it's no different in the New Testament. What circumcision was to the children of Israel, baptism is to the children of the church. It isn't a sign of our faith but a picture of God's promises. It's an outward, permanent and visible reminder of what God has done for us in Jesus.
That's why we love baptising our kids because we want them to know that they belong and we want them one day to believe! And when that day comes, we ask those children - now adults - to outwardly confirm their personal trust in Jesus.
We acknowledge that some Christians prefer to dedicate their child and we respect that decision as God has entrusted the primary care children to their parents. So we happily baptise or dedicate a child based on their parents' convictions. Either way, we want to celebrate Jesus' heart for kids "because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Mt 19:14).
There is no one picture for baptism in the New Testament. The Bible uses a wide range of metaphors for baptism including burial, washing, clothing and circumcision, just to name a few. So we can't say that there is only one mode of baptism based on the amount of water!
At Cross & Crown, we baptise by pouring water to symbolise our sins being washed clean by the blood of Christ (Heb 9:13-14). We also do this so that the whole church can be present because baptism is a gift not just to the individual person but to the whole church. It symbolises us being joined into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12).
At Cross & Crown, we baptise by pouring water to symbolise our sins being washed clean by the blood of Christ (Heb 9:13-14). We also do this so that the whole church can be present because baptism is a gift not just to the individual person but to the whole church. It symbolises us being joined into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12).
This is a really difficult and painful situation and there are many people in our church who have gone through this.
As a starting point, why not read this article written by Adam Ch'ng, "Should I Be Baptised Against My Parents' Wishes?" at TGC Australia. And if you'd like to get in touch with us, we'd love to connect you with someone at Cross & Crown who has faced the same challenge.
We love and are praying for you!
As a starting point, why not read this article written by Adam Ch'ng, "Should I Be Baptised Against My Parents' Wishes?" at TGC Australia. And if you'd like to get in touch with us, we'd love to connect you with someone at Cross & Crown who has faced the same challenge.
We love and are praying for you!
That's perfectly OK. In fact, that's one of the reasons God gives us baptism - to strengthen our faith. Believe it or not, baptism isn't about you or your faith; it's about God and his faithfulness! You don't need a strong faith to be baptised, just a genuine one.
If you can wholeheartedly, "I do believe; help my unbelief!" (Mk 9:24), then baptism is God's gift for you.
If you can wholeheartedly, "I do believe; help my unbelief!" (Mk 9:24), then baptism is God's gift for you.
Check out these books:
- Karl Deenick, Washed by God: The Story of Baptism, Ross-shire: Christian Focus Publications, 2022.
- Jason Helopoulos, Covenantal Baptism: Why We Baptize Children, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2021.
How can I get baptised at Cross & Crown?
We organise 4 baptism and confirmation services each year, one on Easter Sunday and another later in the year.
A few months' ahead, we hold an information session which you can come along to. From there, one of our Staff Team runs a 4-week preparation course for anyone planning on being baptised.
During that course, we'll go through the heart of the gospel and what it means to be baptised. We'll also help you write your testimony so that you can tell your friends and family about the grace of God in your life.
If you'd like to find out about our next information session, contact us at: info@crossandcrown.org.au.
A few months' ahead, we hold an information session which you can come along to. From there, one of our Staff Team runs a 4-week preparation course for anyone planning on being baptised.
During that course, we'll go through the heart of the gospel and what it means to be baptised. We'll also help you write your testimony so that you can tell your friends and family about the grace of God in your life.
If you'd like to find out about our next information session, contact us at: info@crossandcrown.org.au.