Baptism

A step of faith, obedience, and new life. For many of us, baptism has been part of our story for a long time. Some were baptized as infants, surrounded by family and loved ones who wanted to dedicate them to God. We honor that desire and the meaning that moment may hold for you and your family. At Restoration, we understand baptism as a personal response to faith in Jesus—a public declaration that you have decided to follow Him. In Scripture, Jesus was baptized as an adult, and baptism followed a person's decision to believe and follow Him. We see baptism as a step someone chooses to take for themselves when they are ready to publicly identify with Jesus. So if you were baptized as an infant, you don't need to feel like your earlier baptism was meaningless. It may have been an important expression of your family's faith and commitment. But you may now find yourself ready to make your own public declaration of faith in Jesus. If your previous baptism did not represent your own decision to follow Jesus, baptism can be a meaningful next step—not because you are trying to earn God's favor, but because you want to publicly identify with the new life Jesus is giving you. Your baptism tells a story: I have decided to follow Jesus. Jesus is making me new. I belong to His family. If you're wondering whether you should be baptized, we'd love to talk with you. Bring your questions. There's no pressure. We'll walk through it together and help you decide what your next step should be.

What Baptism Declares Three things we’re saying when we step into the water. Water baptism is a public declaration of what God is doing in our lives. It’s a simple, visible way of saying, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” When we’re baptized, we’re declaring three important things: You are a follower of Jesus. Baptism is a public expression of a personal decision to trust Jesus and follow Him. In Acts 2, those who received the message about Jesus responded by being baptized. “Those who accepted his message were baptized.” — Acts 2:41 You are beginning a changed life in Christ. Going under the water is a picture of dying to our old way of life. Coming up out of the water is a picture of the new life we have in Jesus. Baptism reminds us that following Jesus means we are being changed from the inside out. “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 6:4 You are part of a new family. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. When we identify with Christ, we become part of His family—the church. We don't have to figure out life or faith by ourselves. We belong to something bigger than ourselves and walk together with other people who are learning to follow Jesus. “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” — Galatians 3:26–27 Baptism is more than getting wet. It's a story. A story about where you've been, what Jesus is doing in you, and the new life you're stepping into. I follow Jesus. I am being made new. I belong to His family.

When you're ready to say, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” At Restoration, we believe baptism is for anyone who understands what baptism means and is ready to make that decision for themselves. We welcome children age 7 and older who understand what baptism symbolizes and want to make a personal, public declaration of their faith in Jesus. For parents, this can be an important and meaningful conversation. We encourage you to walk alongside your child as they explore what it means to follow Jesus and consider baptism. Take your time, ask questions, pray together, and talk with our church leaders. There is no need to rush the moment. Our hope is that baptism becomes a meaningful expression of a faith that is beginning to take root and grow. If you or your child is considering baptism, we'd love to walk with you through the next step.

Two beginnings — dedicated as a baby, baptized as a believer. Baptism, throughout the New Testament, is a public expression of worship — a way of showing on the outside what's already happened on the inside: new life, found in Jesus. We see it twice in Jesus' own story. As an infant, his parents brought him before God and dedicated him — entrusting him to the Lord before he could choose anything for himself. (Luke 2:22–40) As an adult, he stepped into the Jordan and was baptized — his own public yes, after a lifetime of growing into who he already was. (Matthew 3:16–17) We follow that same rhythm. Some traditions practice what's sometimes called "baptism of confirmation" for children — parents making a promise to God on behalf of a child too young to make it themselves, until that child is old enough to profess faith on their own. It's a sincere and good practice. It's just not the same thing as believer's baptism, and it's a newer one — that custom took shape roughly 300 years after the New Testament was written, distinct from the baptisms we read about in Scripture. So at Restoration, we hold both — because Scripture shows us both. CHILD DEDICATION For parents who want to entrust their son or daughter to God publicly, the way Mary and Joseph did — and commit to raising them in the way of Jesus. BELIEVER'S BAPTISM For anyone, at any age, who has decided for themselves to follow Jesus — and wants to say so, publicly, by going under the water. Want to schedule a dedication or a baptism? Email us at team@restorationchurch.us — we'd love to talk it through with you.