If you are interested in being baptized please register here and a church leader will reach out to you to make arrangements. Below is information regarding our understanding and approach to baptism.

Q&As about baptism

What is baptism?

Baptism is an act that Jesus commands His followers to participate in. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible also teaches us that baptism represents the pledge of a good conscience before God 1 Peter 3:21. In other words, baptism is something that Christians outwardly do in order to show what God has inwardly done. Jesus Christ gives new life to all who place their faith in Him. And in this process, there is a death to the former self, and a new resurrected life that follows. This is what Jesus referred to as being "born again" John 3:3

When people are submerged underwater as they're baptized, it represents the death and burial of their old life. When they are brought up out of the water, it represents the new resurrected life that God has given to them Romans 6:4. In other words, water baptism is a physical depiction of the spiritual work that God does within a person's heart when they place their faith in Him. The only requirements for a person to be baptized are:

1. He or she has placed his or her faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord
2. He or she understands what baptism represents

Acts 8:36-37 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

What is the purpose of baptism?

This is an excellent question, and surprisingly doesn't get asked often. According to the book of Romans, here's the exact purpose for water baptism:

Romans 6:3-5 "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.

Baptism is a symbolic act by which we share in the death and life of Jesus Christ. Jesus died and was buried for the sake of our sins. The process of being submerged in the water represents the death and burial of our old life. But Jesus was also raised from the dead in order to give us eternal life. As we're raised out of the water, it represents our newfound life in Christ. By being baptized, we're essentially saying that we identify with what Jesus went through for us.

In a way, baptism is a funeral and a birthday celebration rolled into one. As we go down, we recognize the death of the old us, and as we come up, we celebrate the birth of the new us. God gave us this rite as a physical reminder of the spiritual decision that we've made. Baptism is also a way for us to practically put our faith into action and demonstrate to the world that we've died to our old selves and desires, and have received a new resurrection life in Christ. It keeps us accountable and mindful that the world is watching us and expects to see some sort of change in our lives.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Is baptism necessary for salvation?

The teaching that water baptism is necessary for salvation is known as the doctrine of "Baptismal Regeneration." In examining the following references, our hope is to give clear and concise reasons why Calvary Chapel does not agree with this teaching:

1. The thief on the cross was given the promise of eternal life without being baptized as a Christian Luke 23:40-43. This indicates that water baptism isn't a necessary precedent in order to go to Heaven.

2. In Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus is converted on the road to Damascus, three days before he was water baptized. The fact that he was saved before he was baptized is evidenced by his reference to Jesus as his Lord (V5), God's testimony to Ananias that Saul had been praying to Him (V11), and Ananias' calling Saul his "brother" (V17). All of this points to the fact that Saul was converted and saved before he was water baptized.

3. In Acts 10, those of the house of Cornelius are saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit before they are ever baptized in water Acts 10:44-48. This would have been impossible if water baptism were required for salvation.

4. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Paul declares the gospel by which also you are saved (Jesus' substitutionary death, burial, & resurrection). But take note that he does not mention water baptism in connection with the gospel of salvation.

5. Both Jesus and Paul demonstrated less of an emphasis on water baptism than on the proclamation of the gospel in their public ministries John 4:2, 1 Corinthians 1:14. They prioritized the preaching of the gospel over baptizing because it's the gospel that saves, not the act of baptism.

6. The book of 1 John was specifically written to provide assurance for Christians of their salvation 1 John 5:13. Yet it never mentions water baptism, much less its necessity or pre-requisite for salvation. If baptism were necessary for salvation, don't you think John would have taught this, or at the very least mentioned it in passing? How else could John have assured believers in their salvation unless baptism weren't required?

7. But the most fundamental reason why the act of water baptism must be unnecessary for salvation is that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ and not through any single work of man Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:5. This is such an ingrained principle found throughout the New Testament, it can not be overlooked. We believe that baptism is a good work-but a work nonetheless. We diminish God's grace when we teach that grace plus something equals salvation. From the earliest days, man has sought to add to God's grace in order to be made righteous. This is essentially what baptismal regeneration does, even if those who teach and believe it have the very best of intentions.

On the other hand, there are really only three passages that seem to support baptismal regeneration at first read. However, each of them can be easily explained when we take a closer look at the original grammar and context of these passages:

1. Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. At first read, this seems to be saying that baptism and belief go hand and hand in being saved. But notice that the negative truth of damnation is conditional upon unbelief only. The only way to be damned is to not believe, and the only way to be saved is to believe. Baptism is the natural act of following through with the salvation that God has already given you. Furthermore, according to the leading Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates, "The word 'believe' is an aorist participle referring to one who has believed at some point in time in the past. But 'is baptized' is in the passive voice. This form refers to an act of outward obedience, in this case, baptism. The correct translation should be stated, 'he who believed and who was baptized shall be saved.' But this does not necessitate baptism for salvation."

2. Acts 2:38: Then Peter said to them, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of the Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Again, the command to repent is the focus of this verse. The verb translated "be baptized" is in the indirect passive imperative which means that it does not have the same force as the direct command of "repent." A more literal translation would read, "repent and be baptized because of the forgiveness of sin" (that you've already received).

3. 1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism. This really isn't a problem because Peter goes on to clarify his statement: ...baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter is saying that baptism itself doesn't remove your filth. Instead it indicates that you have been saved by virtue of the resurrection of Christ.

In the case of John 3:1-8, the context shows that the birth by water is a reference to physical birth from the womb, not water baptism. Anyone who has witnessed labor understands the role that water plays during delivery. Here's how it reads when viewed in this light:

John 3:1-7 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. {2} This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." {3} Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." {4} Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" {5} Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water [physical birth] and the Spirit [spiritual birth], he cannot enter the kingdom of God. {6} "That which is born of the flesh is flesh [physical birth], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [spiritual birth]. {7} "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again'" [born both physically and spiritually].

As for Romans 6:1-7, this passage is teaching us that baptism represents our identification with Christ's death and resurrection. It does not go on to state that baptism accomplishes or completes our salvation experience.

Can I be baptized again?

There is no biblical prohibition against a Christian being baptized more than once. However, we believe a person should truly examine their heart and make sure that they're being re-baptized for the right reasons. We would not want something so special as baptism to become something that people flippantly take part in. But as long as water baptism is accompanied by the proper spirit of reverence and adoration for the Lord, Christians are free to be baptized as often as they choose or as often as the Lord leads them

What is Calvary's position on infant baptism?

Before we address this question, it would be beneficial to examine God's Word when it comes to this issue. The fact of the matter is that there are no examples of infants or small children being baptized in the Bible. Furthermore, the Bible lays out certain requirements for baptism that no infant or young child could possibly meet. As Philip evangelized the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, the eunuch asked "What hinders me from being baptized?" In other words, "What do I need to do before I can be baptized?" Philip's answer to this question is very important because it sets a precedent for Christian doctrine:

Acts 8:37-38 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Here we see that personal belief and faith in Jesus Christ is a pre-requisite for baptism. The Bible also tells us that we ought to recognize and appreciate the significance of what baptism represents. Again it depicts the burial of the old life and the hope of the new resurrected life in Christ. Romans 6:3-5

According to the Apostle Paul, every person who gets baptized is expected to understand and appreciate this wonderful truth. Therefore, when we baptize someone here at Calvary Chapel, they must first of all be a believer in Jesus Christ, and they should also understand what baptism means and represents.

Of course, this brings us to the issue of baptizing infants and small children. We don't baptize infants or small children because it's impossible for them to consciously place their faith in Christ and understand what baptism represents. Although the outward act of baptism would be accomplished, the inward significance of baptism would be completely void and ritualistic. Furthermore, the biblical model is always that of infant and child dedication, never baptism Exodus 13:2, 12-15, 1 Samuel 1:26-28, Luke 2:22, 27, 18:15-17, Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16.

"But what about those families that were baptized on the behalf of a parent's profession of faith?" There are only two instances (that I'm aware of) where this even remotely appears to take place, in the households of Cornelius and the Philippian jailer. In both cases, all who are baptized also heard and believed the Word of God that was preached to them.

Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word...Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

In this case, it is pretty clear that those who heard the Gospel believed in it since they were immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit. The next logical step was for them to be water baptized, having already demonstrated that they were believers. The case of the Philippian jailer's family is a bit more challenging, but becomes clear nonetheless.

Acts 16:27-34 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

If you stop at verse 33 it appears as though the entire family was baptized on the basis of the jailer. But when you read on it clearly says that the entire household had believed, making it acceptable for all of them to be baptized. Some confuse the statement "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" as meaning that the entire family would be saved by virtue of the jailer's belief. But the correct way of understanding this is that the same opportunity to be saved through believing was extended to the jailer's family and not just him: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household [will be saved through believing]," which they evidently did. In any event, there is no evidence of infants or small children being baptized in this family, only those "having believed in God."

Should I be baptized again?

As one reads the New Testament, it becomes fairly clear that a person should be baptized with an awareness of what they're actually doing.
Acts 8:35-38, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Peter 3:21

Each of these scriptures indicate that baptism is something that you need to fully comprehend in order for it to have any true significance in your life. Based on this, once you are fully aware and have an understanding of what baptism is and what it represents, you should be baptized again.

What if I was baptized as an infant?

In order to see the answer to this question, we need to recognize that the Bible never teaches or demonstrates infant baptism. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches just the opposite, that baptism should be something experienced only by those who consciously place their faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 8:36-37, 1 Peter 3:21

It's obvious that an infant is not capable of believing with all of their heart in the gospel of Jesus Christ, nor can they pledge that their conscience has been cleansed by God. Therefore, we believe that infant baptism is something without warrant in the word, and that it doesn't have any true spiritual significance for the infant that is being baptized. It might be a nice tradition in some churches, but its value never goes beyond this since God never commands or commends it.

We do, however, see infant dedication taught and demonstrated in the Bible. Both Samuel 1 Samuel 1:27-28 and Jesus Luke 2:22 were dedicated to God as infants, and Jesus even welcomed parents to bring their little children to Him so that He could bless them Matthew 19:13-15. For this reason, our church offers infant dedication services instead of infant baptisms.

In your case, we would definitely encourage you to be baptized now that you're an adult, since your baptism as an infant was really irrelevant from a biblical standpoint. Remember, the value in baptism is that it's an outward reflection of an inward commitment. Your commitment to bury the past and follow after Jesus will be powerfully expressed and demonstrated as you take the step to be water baptized now that you're a believing adult.