Why We Believe in Believer's Baptism

An outward expression of an inward decision.

Will Duttry • Assistant Pastor
May 13, 2026

3 Minute Read

What Believer's Baptism Is

Believer's baptism simply means that baptism is for those who have already trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour — not for infants, not as a means of salvation, but as a public declaration by a saved person that they belong to Christ. The word "baptism" in the New Testament comes from the Greek word baptizo, meaning to immerse or dip. That's why we practice baptism by full immersion — it's not a tradition we invented; it's what the New Testament describes.

What the Bible Says

In Acts 8:36–38, the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip, "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" Philip's answer is telling: "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." Belief came first — then baptism. The same pattern appears throughout the book of Acts. In Acts 2:41, those who "gladly received" the Word were baptized. In Acts 16, the Philippian jailer believed and was baptized the same night — but note, he believed first.

The Lord Jesus Himself set the pattern in the Great Commission: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Faith precedes the act. Baptism doesn't produce salvation — it pictures it.

What Baptism Pictures

Romans 6:3–5 is one of the most beautiful passages about baptism in all of Scripture. Paul explains that being buried in the water and raised back up is a picture of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection — and of the fact that we died to our old life and are risen to walk in newness of life. That picture only works with immersion, and it only makes sense if the person being baptized is already alive in Christ.

Romans 6:3-5
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Why This Matters

When someone is baptized at Faith Baptist Church, they are publicly saying: I have trusted Christ. My old life is buried. I am living for Him now. That testimony is precious, and we want to guard it.

Learn more about Baptism

If you have trusted Christ and have never been scripturally baptized by immersion as a believer, we'd love to talk with you about taking that step.

Learn more about Salvation

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From this Collection: Beyond the Pulpit

May 15, 2026 • 3 Minute Read

What is "Continue" Discipleship?

If you've recently trusted Christ as your Saviour — or if you've been a Christian for a while but feel like you need a stronger foundation — the Continue discipleship program at Faith Baptist Church might be exactly what you need. What Is Continue? Continue is a biblically-grounded, one-on-one discipleship program designed to give new (and growing) Christians a solid footing in the Word of God. The program was developed by Striving Together Publications and written by Pastor Paul Chappell. It consists of fourteen weekly lessons that walk through the core doctrines and practical truths every Christian needs to know. Each lesson is built around a clear outline, thorough Scripture references, and built-in conversation starters to help open up honest, personal discussion. At the end of each lesson, there are five daily devotional readings to help develop the habit of getting into God's Word every day. Each session is designed to take about 45–60 minutes. What Topics Does It Cover? The fourteen lessons include: The Word of God Knowing God Who Is Jesus? Your Salvation Developing a Prayer Life Your Relationship with God's Word The Holy Spirit The Life of a Disciple The Local Church Your Place in Your Church Family Financial Stewardship Go and Tell the Good News Living in Light of Eternity Continue Every topic is practical, biblical, and tied to real Christian living — not just information, but transformation. How Does It Work at Faith Baptist? When you enroll in Continue at Faith Baptist, you'll be paired with an experienced believer from our church family who will walk through the lessons with you week by week. Discipleship is meant to happen in relationship — and that's exactly how Continue is designed. When does Discipleship happen? Discipleship happens best when it becomes a regular, intentional part of your life. In the Continue program, most pairs meet once a week at a time that works for both people — before or after a service, in a home, at the church, or even over coffee. The key is consistency and a setting where you can focus on God’s Word and honest conversation. But discipleship is more than just a scheduled meeting. It continues throughout the week as you spend time in God’s Word using the daily devotions, apply what you’ve learned, and stay connected with the person discipling you. It’s not just about completing lessons — it’s about growing in Christ day by day. In other words, discipleship isn’t confined to one hour a week. It’s a lifestyle of learning, growing, and following Jesus together. How Do I Sign Up? You can sign up and learn more below. The Continue book itself is available through the church office. Whether you're brand new to the faith or looking to get grounded in what you believe, we'd love to walk through this with you. Reach out to us — we'll get you connected.Sign me up!

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Summer Bible Study Modules

One of the great blessings of our church family is the opportunity we have to continue growing in our walk with God together. This summer, we are excited to offer several Summer Modules designed to strengthen our faith, sharpen our witness, and help us better serve others for the cause of Christ. These classes are more than simply additional studies—they are opportunities for spiritual growth, practical ministry training, and deeper connection within our church family. I want to encourage every member to prayerfully consider being part of one of these modules this summer. We're offering three special 3-week Bible Study Modules designed to help you grow, learn, and connect. Each module meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., and you'll choose one of two available session windows: Session A: June 17, June 24 & July 1 Session B: July 15, July 22 & July 29 Browse the three modules below. Introduction to American Sign Language Taught by Mrs. Laura Braley & Mrs. Christina McHenry Session A Location: Conference Room Session B Location: Conference Room Join us for an introductory ASL class designed for church members who want to learn how to better connect with the Deaf community and share the love of Christ through sign language. Each weekly session will include: A review of fingerspelling An introduction to conversational and biblical ASL signs Learning to sign John 3:16 Signing along to one of our church's popular worship songs Participants will also gain insight into Deaf culture and the history of the Deaf community and the church. Did you know? Of the estimated 150–250 million Deaf people in the world, only 2% are followers of Jesus Christ. An alarming 98% of Deaf people are currently missing the blessing of eternal life with Jesus — making Deaf people one of the largest unreached and unengaged people groups in the world. Through this class, we hope to inspire awareness, compassion, and a heart for Deaf ministry. Snapshots of Revival Taught by Pastor Chad Braley Session A Location: Auditorium Session B Location: Teen Room Throughout this study, we will examine moments in Scripture where God transformed lives, homes, and even nations through people who were willing to let revival begin in them personally. Revival has never started with crowds—it begins in individual hearts surrendered to God. Our prayer is that this study will challenge and encourage us to seek the Lord in a deeper and more personal way. Reaching the Religious Taught by Bro. Michael Poapst Session A Location: Teen Room Session B Location: Auditorium In a day when many people are religious yet still without a true relationship with Christ, this class will help believers learn how to lovingly and biblically point people to the truth of God’s Word. Brother Mike is a serious student of the Scriptures and will do an excellent job helping us understand how to handle the Word with both grace and truth, allowing the Bible to do the work in a person’s heart and life. I truly believe these Summer Modules will be a tremendous encouragement and help to our church family. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity to grow in truth, strengthen our witness, and allow God to continue working in our lives throughout the summer months.

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May 13, 2026 • 3 Minute Read

Why We Believe in Believer's Baptism

If you've spent any time at Faith Baptist Church, you've probably heard the phrase "believer's baptism." But what does that mean, and why does it matter? Here's a plain-language look at what the Bible teaches and why we hold to it firmly. What Believer's Baptism Is Believer's baptism simply means that baptism is for those who have already trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour — not for infants, not as a means of salvation, but as a public declaration by a saved person that they belong to Christ. The word "baptism" in the New Testament comes from the Greek word baptizo, meaning to immerse or dip. That's why we practice baptism by full immersion — it's not a tradition we invented; it's what the New Testament describes. What the Bible Says In Acts 8:36–38, the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip, "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" Philip's answer is telling: "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." Belief came first — then baptism. The same pattern appears throughout the book of Acts. In Acts 2:41, those who "gladly received" the Word were baptized. In Acts 16, the Philippian jailer believed and was baptized the same night — but note, he believed first. The Lord Jesus Himself set the pattern in the Great Commission: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Faith precedes the act. Baptism doesn't produce salvation — it pictures it. What Baptism Pictures Romans 6:3–5 is one of the most beautiful passages about baptism in all of Scripture. Paul explains that being buried in the water and raised back up is a picture of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection — and of the fact that we died to our old life and are risen to walk in newness of life. That picture only works with immersion, and it only makes sense if the person being baptized is already alive in Christ. Romans 6:3-5 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Why This Matters When someone is baptized at Faith Baptist Church, they are publicly saying: I have trusted Christ. My old life is buried. I am living for Him now. That testimony is precious, and we want to guard it.Learn more about Baptism If you have trusted Christ and have never been scripturally baptized by immersion as a believer, we'd love to talk with you about taking that step.Learn more about Salvation

Will Duttry

Assistant Pastor