BAPTISM

Baptism is a sacred, outward expression of an inward reality—a powerful symbol of the gospel made personal. It is a moment where heaven meets earth in the life of a believer, and where we visibly declare what Jesus has done for us.

Jesus didn’t just tell us to be baptized; He led the way. He was baptized in the Jordan River, fully immersed, and as He came up out of the water, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. In that moment, the Father affirmed Him with the words, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

In baptism, we follow Jesus’ example. It is both an act of obedience and an invitation into deeper intimacy with the Father, Son, and Spirit.

Baptism is a visual and physical representation of what happened at the cross and resurrection of Jesus:

• We are buried with Christ—our old selves, sin, and shame go down into the grave.

• We are raised with Christ—cleansed, forgiven, made fully righteous, and born into new life.

• We are filled with the Holy Spirit—just as the Spirit came upon Jesus, He now comes to live in us.

Baptism tells the story of salvation. It’s not just symbolic; it’s prophetic. The water does not forgive us, only Jesus does that, but the water becomes a grave and a womb—a place of death and a place of birth.

• Because Jesus did. He both modeled it and commanded it (Matthew 28:19).

• Because Scripture calls us to it. The early church baptized believers immediately as part of their response to the gospel.

  • Acts 2:38-39 — “Repent and be baptized, every one of you…”

  • Acts 8:12, 8:39; 19:4-5; 22:16 — Again and again, baptism followed belief.

• Because it’s a public declaration of love and loyalty. It’s how we say to the world, “I belong to Jesus now & forever.”

• Because it invites transformation. Baptism marks the moment we surrender everything.

The word baptism means "to immerse" or "to submerge." At TVC, we baptize by full immersion, just as Jesus was baptized. We go under the water, completely covered—like entering a grave—because nothing in us is left unchanged.

It’s not a partial commitment. It's a full surrender. Baptism is our way of saying:  "My whole life is Yours, Jesus—my past, my present, my future. I’m all in."

While friends and family are welcome to participate in baptisms, we prioritize having a TVC leader present on stage to help lead, assist, and provide support.

At TVC, we believe baptism is a one-time declaration of faith. However, we also make space for those who feel led to be baptized again—not out of pressure, but as a response to a fresh move of God in their lives.

When Rebaptism May Be Right for You
You might consider rebaptism if:

• You were baptized as a child and now want to make this decision personally.

• You were baptized before but drifted from faith and are now returning to Jesus.

• You’ve recently experienced a powerful transformation or encounter with Jesus and want to mark it with a fresh declaration.

Seeking Discernment
If you’re considering rebaptism, we encourage you to connect with our discernment team. They’ll walk alongside you to listen, pray, and help you determine if this is your next step. Sometimes the Spirit may instead be leading you toward another form of renewal.

Other Ways to Mark Renewal

• Receiving Communion as a personal recommitment to Jesus

• Prayer for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit

• Deliverance prayer for deeper freedom and healing

We believe baptism is just one of many steps along our journey of discipleship. We strongly encourage you to get involved in community. We recommend taking our Connect class as soon as possible after you are baptized. Learn more about Connect→