*Click on the references to read the Scripture passages.*

We believe that baptism by full immersion is commanded in the scriptures. All who repent and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord should be baptized. In this way, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. This ordinance should be administered by full immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19Matthew 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,; Mark 16:16Mark 16:16

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.; Acts 10:47,48Acts 10:47-48

47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.; Romans 6:4Romans 6:4

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.).

In Christianity, water baptism is tied to repentance, faith and salvation (Matthew 28:19Matthew 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,; Mark 16:16Mark 16:16

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.; Acts 2:38Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.). Apart from repentance and faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, baptism by itself does not do anything (1 Peter 3:21I Peter 3:21

and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (NIV)). Water baptism does not earn salvation: it reflects it.

• Baptism is symbolic of our death with Christ and our new life by His resurrection (Romans 6:4Romans 6:4
  
  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.; 1 Peter 3:21I Peter 3:21
  
  and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (NIV)).
• Jesus Christ, our Lord, commands water baptism, so we are baptized out of obedience to Him (Matthew 28:19Matthew 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,;).
• We baptize by immersion because that is what is exemplified in Scripture (Matthew 3:16aMatthew 3:16a
  
  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water;; Acts 8:36-38Acts 8:36-38
  
  36 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?” 37 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.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.).
• Salvation requires a believer’s understanding of his/her own sinfulness and need for salvation (Romans 3:23-24Romans 3:23-24
  
  23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,, 10:9-10Romans 10:9-10
  
  9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.). Since infants are not capable of that understanding, infant baptism cannot reflect an act of obedience to this commandment of the Lord. Therefore, we do not practice infant baptism.