Many people in the South get baptized without truly repenting. Maybe someone told you that you could accept Jesus as Savior without surrendering to Him as Lord—like picking only the parts of Jesus you like (Luke 6:46). But the Bible shows that baptism and repentance go hand in hand (Acts 2:38). Baptism represents leaving the wilderness of sin behind and stepping into a new life of faith and obedience (Romans 6:3-4).

We submerge people for two reasons:

First, that’s how they did it in the Bible. For example, John the Baptist didn’t sprinkle water on people’s heads; he brought them into the Jordan River and dunked them (Matthew 3:6).

Second, the word “baptism” literally means to plunge, dip, or immerse. The Greek word baptizo wasn’t religious originally—it was used for things like ships sinking or even recipes for pickles. It described total immersion, which is why baptism involves going completely under water.

Finally, submersion symbolizes burial and resurrection. Just like we bury people by placing them into the ground, baptism represents being buried with Jesus and then raised to walk in new life (Romans 6:4).

First, some think baptism is required for salvation, but Scripture shows otherwise. For example, Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). If baptism were necessary, Jesus would have called for water right then! Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Salvation comes through confessing and believing—nothing more.

Second, baptism is like a wedding ring. A wedding ring doesn’t make you married; it’s a sign of the covenant you’ve made. In the same way, baptism is an outward sign of your faith, not a condition for salvation.

That’s why we only baptize people after they’ve become believers. Baptizing someone before their conversion, like as an infant, is a reflection of their parents’ faith, not their own. Baptism is meant to show personal repentance and faith (Acts 2:38).

First, baptism declares that you have left the wilderness of sin where Satan rules and entered the promised land of God’s rule. Martin Luther said he would remind Satan, “I am baptized. I have left your wilderness. You have no jurisdiction here.” Baptism is a powerful statement of your new identity in Christ (Romans 6:4).

Second, baptism prepares and empowers you to resist Satan. When Jesus was baptized, He heard the Father’s affirmation and was filled with the Holy Spirit. This moment gave Him the strength to face temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 3:16-17; 4:1-11). In the same way, baptism is a moment of declaring God’s love and power over your life.

Baptism isn’t just a ritual—it’s a flag planted in the ground, marking that you belong to God. It’s a declaration to yourself, others, and Satan that you’ve left sin behind and entered God’s kingdom. Satan has no claim over you! (Colossians 1:13-14).

The Bible says every believer in Christ should be baptized. A believer is someone who knows their sin separates them from God and trusts only in Jesus' death on the cross to save them. They stop relying on good works or religion and trust Christ alone for salvation (Acts 2:41; 8:12-13).

We want everyone to go through the process listed in the picture above at the top of the page. Once complete, we will schedule a baptism day that works for you and your family.

We baptize by immersion because that's the example in the Bible, though we may adjust for physical limitations. Immersion means the believer goes under the water, symbolizing the end of their old life of sin, and is lifted up to show that the Spirit who raised Jesus has given them new life (Matthew 3:16, Acts 8:38-39, Romans 6:1-11).

FBC Jones does not set a specific age for children to be baptized. We want to avoid discouraging a child who is genuinely saved from being baptized. However, we also want to be cautious not to baptize a child who isn't yet truly saved or able to understand and embrace the Gospel, believer's baptism, & church membership.

Our pastors work closely with parents to make sure a child is ready for baptism, understanding the Gospel, baptism, and church membership, and showing evidence of a changed life.

A child will not be baptized until the parents (if believers), the child's pastor(s), and the pastors agree that the child is ready.

After baptism, the church members, under the guidance of the pastors, will disciple the child to grow in Christ and mature in faith.

We want to partner with you and your child on their journey. We have created a book to help your child understand what it means to follow Christ. Please contact at the button below.

Also, it’s important to regularly participate in children’s and student ministry. Make prayer and Bible reading a part of your family routine. Also, model your own faith by attending church services, reading your Bible, praying, and showing genuine love for others.

Great question! Since baptism is an ordinance to be practiced by the community of believers, we at FBC Jones administer baptism through our pastors and deacons. However, these two groups are not the only ones involved in baptism.

For example, when possible, we encourage the father to participate in his child’s baptism, showing his role as the spiritual leader in his family. Similarly, if a husband comes to faith before his wife, we encourage him to be involved in baptizing her. The role of "baptizer" is not limited to the pastors of our church, and anyone appointed by FBC Jones is authorized to baptize.

Overseeing the entire process are our pastors and deacons, who are recognized for their character as servants and leaders of our faith community. Because baptism is such an important occasion, we sometimes allow small group leaders, spouses, or parents to baptize someone significant in their lives. Even when these people are involved, however, there will always be a pastor or deacon present to oversee the baptism and ensure leadership.

Many people at FBC Jones come to faith only to realize they were already baptized. Depending on the situation, we may or may not encourage re-baptism.

If the baptism occurred as an infant, we have a clear position: the believer should be baptized again. Infant baptism is more about the parents' faith than the individual’s, and every baptism in Scripture follows a personal confession of faith. For those baptized as infants, we encourage them to be baptized as adults—not to dishonor their parents' choice but to confirm it for themselves.

If the baptism occurred later, we evaluate each case individually. Generally, if a person is sure they were not saved when first baptized (maybe due to pressure or misunderstanding), we encourage re-baptism. However, if the baptism marked the beginning of a faith journey that grew over time, we do not seek a second baptism.

This can be a complex issue, as we often experience new levels of grace that make earlier experiences seem less clear. C.S. Lewis, for example, described a moment years after writing Mere Christianity when he moved from intellectual acceptance to the realization that his sins were forgiven, yet he didn’t consider this a conversion.

If someone experiences something similar, we encourage them to see it as a deepening of their relationship with Jesus, not a second conversion. In this way, baptism is not about reaching the peak of faith, but about marking the beginning of a life of faith.

Yes. Jesus commands all believers to be baptized, and disobeying this command shows a lack of submission to Christ and His church (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38). In the New Testament, baptism is closely connected with church membership. Since both go together, only baptized believers are eligible for membership at FBC Jones (Acts 2:41-42).