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Baptism
The Ordinance of Baptism
At Reformed Baptist Church of McKinney, we hold to the biblical doctrine of believer's baptism as outlined in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith, which we affirm as a faithful summary of our beliefs. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, instituted by Jesus Christ Himself (Matt. 28:19). It serves as a sign for the baptized person of their fellowship with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5), their engrafting into Him (Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27), the remission of sins (Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16), and their commitment to God through Jesus to live and walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). It is reserved for those who profess repentance toward God, faith in, and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38-41; Mark 16:16). The ordinance is administered by immersion in water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19), symbolizing the believer's burial with Christ and rising to new life (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12).
We view baptism not as a means of salvation, but as an act of obedience and public profession of faith for those who have already experienced God's converting work in their lives (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41). It is a vital step in the Christian journey, often closely tied to church membership, as it demonstrates a commitment to Christ and His church. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and have not yet been baptized as a believer, we encourage you to prayerfully consider this ordinance.
Our Baptism Process
Similar to our membership process, our approach to baptism is intentional, biblically grounded, and designed to ensure understanding, preparation, and joyful obedience. It centers on a personalized interview process to help you grow in your faith while confirming your readiness. This draws from scriptural principles of discipleship and accountability, much like how Christ and the apostles emphasized teaching and examination in the early church (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-38). We acknowledge the diverse range of backgrounds among those interested, and thus our elders approach each expression of interest in baptism with tailored care and deliberate intentionality.
Baptism Interview(s)
Prospective candidates for baptism will schedule an initial interview with two or more elders, which typically lasts about an hour, but can extend or lead to multiple meetings depending on your individual case. During the interview(s), you'll have the opportunity to share:
• Basic biographical information.
• An account of God’s converting work in your life (your testimony of faith).
• Your understanding of the gospel and the meaning of baptism.
We'll discuss any questions you have, explore the biblical significance of baptism in light of our Reformed Baptist theology as expressed in the 1689 Confession, and confirm your profession of faith aligns with Scripture and our church's doctrine (Acts 8:36-38; 1 Tim. 3:1-7 for elder oversight). If additional meetings are helpful for deeper discussion, clarification, or growth we'll schedule them as needed. Once everything is in order, we'll joyfully schedule your baptism during an upcoming worship service, where you'll publicly profess your faith before the congregation (Acts 2:41). Baptisms are a time of celebration for the whole church family!
Getting Started
To express interest in baptism, please fill out our Baptism Request form at https://rbcmckinney.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1085217.
We are excited to talk with you about baptism and walk with you through obedience in this ordinance.