Belief 04 / 10
Water Baptism
True Jesus Church believes that water baptism washes away sins and gives new birth, and that it must be done in natural living water, in the name of the Lord Jesus, with the person fully immersed, head bowed and face down.
Water Baptism is the sacrament for the remission of sins for regeneration. The baptism must take place in natural living water, such as the river, sea, or spring. The Baptist, who already has received baptism of water and the Holy Spirit, conducts the baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the person receiving the baptism must be completely immersed in water with head bowed and face downward.
信水浸系赦罪重生之典礼，必须由已受水灵二浸者，奉主耶稣圣名，在活水中给受浸者予以低下头之全身浸礼。
Many churches see baptism as a public sign that a person has already been saved. True Jesus Church believes baptism is more than a sign. Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). On the day of Pentecost, Peter told the crowd to “be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Through baptism, by the work of the Holy Spirit, the blood of Jesus washes away our sins and we receive new life.
Because baptism matters, so does the way it is done. We follow the Bible’s pattern. It is done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as the apostles did (Acts 2:38; 10:48). It takes place in natural living water such as a river, the sea or a spring, since Jesus was baptised in the Jordan. The person is fully immersed, because in baptism we are “buried with him” (Romans 6:4). And the person bows the head and faces down, to be united with Christ “in the likeness of his death” (Romans 6:5), for when Jesus died, “he bowed his head” (John 19:30).
The one who baptises must already have received both water baptism and the Holy Spirit. Children of believing parents may also be baptised, because the promise is “unto you, and to your children” (Acts 2:39).
At BMC, as in every True Jesus Church, baptisms are held in natural water such as a river or the sea. Before being baptised, a person attends a seekers’ class to understand the faith they are accepting. If you were baptised in another church in a different way, you are welcome to talk with us and look at what the Bible says together.
Common questions
Why do you baptise in rivers or the sea instead of a pool?
Because every baptism in the Bible took place in natural, living water. Jesus was baptised in the Jordan River, John baptised at Aenon “because there was much water there” (John 3:23), and the Ethiopian official was baptised in water they came upon along the road (Acts 8:36-38). We follow that pattern.
Why is the person baptised face down?
Because baptism unites us with Christ “in the likeness of his death” (Romans 6:5), and the Bible records that when Jesus died, He bowed His head (John 19:30). Bowing the head also expresses repentance and humility before God.
I was already baptised in another church. Do I need to be baptised again?
If your earlier baptism was not done in the way the Bible teaches, we would encourage you to be baptised again. In Acts 19, Paul met disciples who had already been baptised; after hearing the full gospel, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-6). We are glad to study this with you.
You are welcome here
Come as you are. Stay for the Sabbath.
Friday 7:30 pm or Saturday 2:30 pm, at Jalan Bendahara 24/7, Bandar Mahkota Cheras.