Gather Lynchburg views water baptism as a practice explicitly commanded by Jesus Christ for believers to observe as symbols of their faith rather than a requirement for salvation. It is practiced as an act of obedience that publicly declares a believer's faith in Jesus Christ, symbolizing their death to sin and resurrection to a new life.
We practices water baptism by full immersion, following the New Testament example and the symbolism of being "buried" and "raised" with Christ. It serves as an outward sign of an inward transformation, representing the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, the burial of the "old self," and the new life a believer now has in Christ.
We believe and teach that water baptism does not save a person. Salvation is a gift of God received entirely through faith, while baptism is a step of obedience taken after accepting Christ. The only requirement for baptism is personal faith and repentance. Therefore, it is reserved for believers who are old enough to understand the decision. According to Matthew 28:19, we baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
If you have placed your trust in Christ for salvation, and would like to be baptized as a testimony to that fact, please let us know and we’ll let you know when our next baptism service is scheduled.