Baptism

You are probably more ready than you realize! If you have confessed with your mouth and believe within your heart that Jesus is Lord of your life (Romans 10v9), then we think a great next step would be to get baptized.

In order to properly guard and guide our community through this sacred act (sacrament) we require that each individual be led through the baptism process by at least one member of our pastoral staff or elder team here at The Sanctuary. The pastor/elder may be joined in the act of baptizing a believer by a CIRCLE Leader (front-line pastor), parent(s), spouse, or significant influence.

While we hold to believer’s baptism, we do so in a way that doesn’t judge other people, churches, or denominations that believe otherwise. Simply put, this is our conviction according to what we believe the Bible teaches on baptism.

The purpose of baptism is to publicly identify a new believer in Jesus Christ. The question may be asked, “Why are so many people baptized as babies?” In the Bible, we find parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them, prayed for them, and told his disciples to welcome them, but he did not baptize them, and he did not tell anyone else to baptize them. Baptism is appropriate only for those who have made a personal decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation.

If you were baptized as a child, it was no doubt the intent of your parents that you would one day be a follower of Christ. Your baptism as an adult can be viewed as the fulfillment of your parents’ wishes. It in no way repudiates the baptism you received as a child.

Baptism as an adult does not need to be repeated multiple times. Baptism is an outward sign of inward salvation. 

Ephesians 2v8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

Salvation is by grace (the gift of Jesus God gives you) through faith (you believing and trusting Jesus’ work on the cross which pays in full the price and consequence of sin once and for all. He exchanges your sin and guilt for His righteousness). When you receive this gift of salvation you are justified–restored to God through Jesus–and you are sealed with the Holy Spirit that adopts you into the family of God. This is a one-time justification–being forgiven and made right through Jesus’ work on the cross.

Baptism is an outward and public sign of this one-time justification reality. It is to publicly identify a new believer in Jesus Christ.  

Romans 6v4 says, “We were therefore buried with him [Jesus] 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.”

This outward and public sign, in community, is you declaring when you go down into the water, your sin was taken and buried with Christ. When you come up out of the water, it is a sign of your new and eternal life in Christ. 

Baptism is an outward sign of inward salvation. So baptism as a saved adult is not something to be repeated multiple times.

As you grow as a Christian you will have seasons of life where you may say or feel ‘If I knew then what I know now’ or ‘I’ve never felt what I feel now’ or ‘I was baptized in that denomination or with that church now I want to at The Sanctuary’ or ‘I just want a fresh start again’. These are to be celebrated changes, but another baptism isn’t necessary. Actually, we want to commission you to live a sent life!

A simple illustration for baptism can be marriage. A husband and wife grow in their relationship to new levels of love yet don’t get remarried to one another repeatedly as they do. So baptism marks your initial acceptance of the gift of God’s grace given to you through Jesus. Though you will continue to grow and experience new levels of closeness with Him (and even mess up and ask for forgiveness too) there is no need to be baptized again.

We believe baptism is to be taken seriously and to be weighed with great thought and care. In order to properly discern this decision in a way that is honoring to the individual, the leadership of The Sanctuary requires that children be at least 7 years old to be baptized. 

Proverbs 20:25 issues a significant caution against the danger of making a vow before adequate knowledge, forethought, and reflection have been given. In an effort to prevent young people from making a premature commitment they may not fully understand, this minimum age has been established.

In Romans 6:1-11, the Apostle Paul explains how the immersion mode of baptism identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Going under water symbolizes Christ’s death. Coming out of the water illustrates his resurrection. Because of this, we hold to baptism by immersion but will sprinkle those with physical disabilities or those who have a psychological reason for not being immersed. It is important to understand that the value of the sacrament of baptism is in the life and heart of the believer, not in the amount of water used.

The New Testament records the baptisms of adults who are believers but never of children. Baptism can’t give a person anything, spiritually speaking. It can only signify something that has already happened. Therefore, The Sanctuary will only baptize people 7 and older who profess to follow Christ. We do, however, encourage Christian parents to present their children for the ceremony of dedication, whereby God’s blessing is formally invoked upon the children. The parents, family, and church body are given the opportunity to publicly commit themselves to raise the children in accordance with the teachings of Scripture. If you have any questions about Baby Dedication, please contact us: kids@sanctuaryindy.com

People are invited to bring a change of clothes with them the day of their baptism. A Sanctuary t-shirt will be given to you to be baptized in. We recommend wearing shorts or something else that can easily be changed out of afterwards.

The New Testament records the baptisms of adults who are believers, but never of infants. Baptism can’t give a person anything, spiritually speaking. It can only signify something that has already happened. Therefore, at The Sanctuary, we only baptize people 7 years old and over who profess to be followers of Christ. This is a public declaration of someone who has already trusted in Christ as their Leader and Savior.

To sign up fill out the form HERE. Upon submission, a member of the The Sanctuary’s Staff will reach out to you within 24 hours to acknowledge and celebrate your decision. They will also give you the necessary details about your baptism.

If you have come to a point in your life where you have decided to follow Christ in everything you do, whether 15 minutes ago, a week ago, or 20 years ago, baptism is the next step of obedience for you to take. Going public with your faith through baptism is a powerful, biblical response to your faith in Jesus.