Why are Baptists called Baptists?
The name points to baptism. In Baptist tradition, a person professes faith in Jesus Christ before being baptized.
The name “Baptist” is associated with baptism following a person's own profession of faith. The Baptist World Alliance describes believers' baptism by immersion as a public declaration of discipleship. That practice explains the name; the name alone does not describe everything Baptists believe.
What does “believers' baptism” mean?
It means that the person being baptized can profess faith for themselves. The Baptist Faith and Message, a statement used by Southern Baptists, describes baptism as the immersion of a believer in water. It also calls baptism a symbol of faith in Christ. This is a source for one Baptist body, not a statement of every detail of Spasenie Church's own practice.
Does baptism give the whole story?
No. Baptists also gather for worship, read Scripture and belong to local congregations. Our introduction to Baptists covers those wider questions. If you are curious about the movement's beginnings, see where Baptists began.
Does every Christian baptized by immersion become a Baptist?
No. Immersion is practiced in other Christian traditions too. “Baptist” names a particular family of churches and its history, rather than everyone who uses water in the same way. Nor should a label replace a conversation with a congregation about its actual beliefs.
Spasenie Church meets in Winter Park and worships primarily in Russian. Our first-visit guide has the address and service time. For questions about this congregation's teaching, write to hello@ChurchSpasenie.com.
Sources: Baptist World Alliance belief statement; Baptist Faith and Message. These explain the wider Baptist tradition, not a church-specific statement of faith.