WHY DOES JESUS MATTER?
There is not one of us who does not struggle to find purpose, answers, and help. If we’re honest, some days we’re just trying to keep our heads above water—take care of the kids, pay the bills, and make ends meet. In the end, we all want to feel we have what it takes.
But we also have deeper questions. Why am I here? Is this all there is? Who am I? What happens when I die?
Jesus matters because He came to answer our deepest questions. He came to give us purpose for living now
and settle the question of where we’ll spend eternity.
JESUS BRINGS MEANING TO YOUR LIFE
God, the creator of the universe, has a plan for your life. He loves you and wants to help you because He made you—on purpose, with a purpose. He knows you need help. He knows you can’t do it on your own. That’s why He sent Jesus. The Bible teaches that we were born sinners. Because of sin, we were separated from a holy God. The Bible also teaches that if we die in our sinful state we will be eternally separated from God. This is why Jesus died. He died on the cross so we as sinners can have our relationship to a holy God restored. We must understand that Jesus is our only hope, and trust Him as our Savior. Upon trusting Jesus Christ as Savior, we are reconciled to God, our sins are forgiven and we are promised eternal life. Jesus loved you enough to die for you, and He can bring incredible meaning and purpose to your life.
NOW WHAT?
If you are ready to meet Jesus, pray this prayer:
“Dear Lord Jesus, I admit that I’ve fallen short. I’ve sinned and need your forgiveness. I believe that You lived, died and rose again so that I could be connected to God. I confess you as my Lord and commit my life to You. I give you my past, present and future. Take my life and use it. I give it to You. Amen.”
If you prayed to meet Jesus, please let us know! If you have any questions, we want to help you take a next step. Stop by Bible Baptist Church this Sunday.
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. It’s a public declaration of how Jesus changed your life. Being baptized shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows them to celebrate this decision with you (Acts 16:31-34).
Baptism doesn’t save a person; it’s a symbol and celebration of salvation (1 Peter 3:21). The power that brought Jesus back to life is the same power Jesus uses to change our lives – and that’s worth getting excited about!
WHY BE BAPTIZED?
Why does baptism matter? Jesus instructs us to be baptized and set the example by being baptized (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 1:9).
Obedience to Jesus shows we believe and follow Him. (1 John 2:3). Because Jesus went public about His love for us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptized shows that we turn away from a life of sin toward Jesus, the only one who can change us (Acts 2:38-41).
WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?
For everyone who decides to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step. Anyone who commits his or her life to following Jesus is ready to be baptized (Acts 8:12).
WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT FORMS OF BAPTISM?
Baptisms in the Bible were by immersion. The original word for baptism most often referred to being immersed or submerged in water. Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the water and rising out of it (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10).
Submersion in the water symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Being submersed underwater represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus raised us and gave us a fresh start in life (Romans 6:3-5).
DO I NEED TO BE BAPTIZED AGAIN?
If you haven’t been baptized by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, we want to help you take your next step of being baptized. Once you’ve taken that step, there’s no need to be baptized again.
God never asks us to take a next step that isn’t good for us. He always gives us more than we deserve or can imagine, including the joy we receive from listening to Him and doing what He says.
DO YOU BAPTIZE CHILDREN?
As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but they are the ones to decide if they will commit their lives to Him (Romans 10:9).
Any instance of baptism follows a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him (Acts 10:47-48). At Bible Baptist, we wait until children are old enough to express their own decision to follow Jesus and understand the meaning of baptism.
If your child has already asked Jesus into his life, explain what baptism is and what it means. Facilitate the conversation, but don’t dominate it.