Next Steps
Do I have to be baptized?
This is one of those trick questions because the answer is yes and no.
No you do not have to be baptized in water to be saved, and yes you do have to be baptized by the filling of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. Water baptism, as conducted according to scripture is complete immersion of the body (Acts 8:35-37). The Greek word transliterated as baptize is baptizo and it literally means "to immerse".
Baptism is an act of obedience where the believer identifies him or herself with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is the first public act of obedience a believer performs and it sets the stage for a life of discipleship and submission to the will of God in a person's life.
Baptism is also the method by which new believers are brought into membership with a local congregation of the Church. The book of Acts repeatedly refers to multitudes of people being "added to the church" following their submission to the gospel and baptism. It is through salvation, baptism, and church membership that a believer is entitled to partake of the Lord's Supper.
Do I have to join/ go to church?
Again this may seem to be a trick question. Yes you do need to join and attend a bible teaching, bible preaching, on fire for God, ready to labor for the Kingdom Church. But, no one is going to make you.
It is difficult to imagine a true Christian who would not WANT to attend church and to join a church.
Church membership is essential to connect with other like-minded believers. Matthew 28:19-20 says "19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen." Church membership and attendance is where the work of discipleship, training, learning, and growing take place.
