What it is and what it is not

Baptism does not save a person.  Only belief in Jesus does that: "...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." Acts 16:31

Baptism does not forgive sin (including original sin).  Only Jesus' shed blood does that: "...and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."  1 John 1:7b

Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward experience: First you accept Jesus Christ as savior, lord and king, then you are baptized so others might identify you with Christ: "...and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized."  Acts 18:8b

Baptism symbolizes our identification with Jesus in his death and burial: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death..."  Romans 6:3,4a

Baptism symbolizes our identification with Jesus at His resurrection: "...like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."  Romans 6:4b

Baptism symbolizes our identification with Christ's body - the Church: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body..."  1 Corinthians 12:13a

Who should be baptized? A person who believes in Jesus Christ as savior, lord and king and has invited him into his or her heart: (Peter speaking of Gentile converts) "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"  Acts 10:47

What is the method of baptism used at Amwell? We believe the Biblical method of baptism is immersion in water: "Jesus... went up straightway out of the water"  Matthew 3:16a "Philip and the eunuch... went down both into the water... and... they were come up out of the water..."  Acts 8:38-39

The believer immersed in water is a sign to the world that he or she has died, been buried and resurrected and is now living for Jesus: "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him."  Colossians 2:12a

When in the baptismal water you are immersed three times: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."  Matthew 28:19