Our Baptism Practices

In the New Testament church, once people believed in Jesus, they were willing to turn from sin (repentance) and publicly confess Christ as Lord, they were then baptized for the forgiveness of their sins and the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit.

• "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
  Acts 2:38

• "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
  Acts 2:41

• "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away,
  calling on his name."
  Acts 22:16

In the original Greek language, baptize meant to dip, plunge, or immerse. In keeping with the Biblical pattern, Gateway practices baptism by immersion as part of one's acceptance of Christ for salvation. Baptism is a beautiful picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and a way we identify with Christ by dying to our old selves and being raised to a new life.

• "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him 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."
  Romans 6:3-5

• "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."
  Galatians 3:27

Due to the Biblical prerequisites of belief, repentance and confession, Gateway does not practice infant baptism. If you haven't already experienced the joy of baptism, we invite you to take the step to accept Christ into your life and be baptized!