what is baptism and why is it so important?

What is baptism?
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper.

Is it necessary for salvation?
No. Baptism is not necessary for salvation. It is the fulfillment to our testimony as to our life in Christ Jesus (see above).

What does the Bible teach about baptism?
We believe in believer's baptism by immersion. Believer's baptism is being baptized after a person professes Jesus as Lord and Savior. The reason for immersion comes from passages but mainly from the word itself, baptízô, which means to submerge or immerse. If you want to see the passages about baptism we encourage you to look them up. Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.

Are you automatically a member of the church when you are baptized?
Traditionally a person would make a profession of faith and come forward during a service and request baptism for church membership into the local church. This led to hundreds even thousands of names on church rolls without any one knowing where they were, especially children. Act Westland Heights Baptist Church we take a more biblical view of baptism. A person makes a profession of faith for salvation, and then they are baptized. If they wish to join the church they must petition the church for membership. However, they are not automatically members of the local church because they are baptized.