If you have decided to follow Jesus, or you made that decision years ago and never took the next step, baptism is the step Scripture points to. A lot of people have questions about it. What does it mean? Why is the water involved? Do I have to be baptized again? Here is what we believe at Catch The Fire Boulder and how to take your next step.
What do we believe about water baptism?
Our statement of beliefs says believers are baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. That wording comes straight from Jesus' instructions in Matthew 28:19, where he tells his followers to make disciples and baptize them in that name.
"Full immersion" means a person goes completely under the water and comes back up. The word "baptize" in the original language of the New Testament carries the idea of dipping or immersing, and that is how we practice it.
What does it mean?
Baptism is a picture of something that has already happened. Paul describes it in Romans 6:3-4: when we are baptized we are buried with Christ, and when we come up out of the water we are raised to walk in new life.
Going under represents the old life being buried. Coming up represents new life in Jesus. It is a public way of saying, in front of people, that you belong to him.
It is not what saves you. Our beliefs page says sin is cleansed only through faith in Christ's blood, and that the Holy Spirit regenerates those who repent and confess Jesus as Lord. Baptism is the response of someone who has already put their faith in him.
Why baptize after believing?
In the book of Acts, baptism follows belief. In Acts 2:38, Peter tells the crowd to repent and be baptized, and the people who accepted his message were baptized. That is the pattern we follow. Baptism is for believers who have made their own decision to follow Jesus.
Is baptism an ordinance?
Yes. Our beliefs page says there are two ordinances that Jesus committed to the church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. An ordinance is a practice Jesus gave to his followers to do, and we take it seriously.
You can read the rest of our beliefs on the What We Believe page.
How do I get baptized at Catch The Fire Boulder?
We hold baptisms at the church from time to time, and the dates are posted on our events page when they are scheduled. The simplest way to get started is to reach out directly. Email steve@ctfboulder.com or call (720) 651-1152, tell us you are interested, and we will tell you what the next step looks like and when the next baptism will be.
If you have never visited, you do not have to wait for a baptism to be scheduled before you come. Our Plan Your Visit page covers what a Sunday looks like.
Common questions
What does Catch The Fire Boulder believe about baptism?
We believe believers are baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is one of two ordinances Jesus gave the church, along with the Lord's Supper, and it follows a person's decision to trust in Christ.
Do I need to be baptized to be saved?
No. Our beliefs page says sin is cleansed through faith in Christ's blood and that the Holy Spirit regenerates those who repent and confess Jesus as Lord. Baptism is the public step of obedience that follows that faith.
How do I ask about getting baptized?
Email steve@ctfboulder.com or call (720) 651-1152 and let us know you are interested. We will tell you when the next baptism is scheduled and what to expect. You can also check the events page for posted dates.
Take the next step
If you are ready to talk about baptism, or just have questions, we would love to hear from you. Join us Sunday at 10am at 700 W. South Boulder Rd. in Lafayette, CO. Plan your visit or email steve@ctfboulder.com.
