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Baptism

WHAT DOES BAPTISM MEAN?

Water baptism is the announcement of the new identity we have by the virtue of God's grace. Baptism is the outward observance of what has already happened spirtually to a person. Therefore, a person who is baptized is not saved by the act of baptism, but by the spiritual commitment and acknowledgement of Jesus as Savior who has forgiven our sins.

Baptism is a witness to the believer (him or herself) that they are serious about acceptance of Christ as Lord. It is a witness to the members of the congregation that he or she is one of them now. For one to refuse to follow the Lord in baptism must be viewed as a crisis of major proportions.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE BAPTIZED?

• Jesus was baptized. (Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22) He is our Savior and example.
• Jesus taught that we should be baptized. (Matthew 28:19-20)
• Leaders in the early church taught baptism. (Acts 2:38-41)
• Christians in the early church were baptized. (Acts 8:1)

WE INSIST UPON BELIEVER'S BAPTISM

• There is no record of an infant baptism in the New Testament.
• Jesus commanded us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them... (Matthew 28:19). A disciple is one who has heard the gospel message and willingly responded by repentance, faith and obedience. Obviously, an infant is incapable of doing such.
• Those who teach the necessity of infant baptism usually do so because they believe that the ritual of baptism itself saves the infant from its sin and hell. Should the infant die before it is baptized, it would not go to heaven.
• We believe that this reveals a misunderstanding of baptism itself, and also a misunderstanding of the nature of sin. We teach that an infant who dies goes to heaven whether he (she) has been baptized or not.
• We believe in infant dedication, just as Jesus was dedicated in the temple on the 8th day after his birth.

WE BELIEVE IN IMMERSION

The New Testament gives evidence that immersion was the mode. (Matthew 3:6, Mark 1:9, Acts 8:38) The submergence and emergence of immersion, according to Paul, symbolize the death, burial to sin on the one hand, and the resurrection to the new life in Christ on the other.

WHEN DO I KNOW I AM READY FOR BAPTISM?

• When I have accepted Christ as my savior and asked Him to forgive my sin.
• When I have decided to become an obedient follower of Him. That means a change of character and a commitment to grow and be led by Him.
• Baptism is a rite of passage. While it is to be taken seriously, it is a time of great joy as you begin your new life in Christ, as the body of believers share in your spiritual development.

WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF COMMITMENT AND GROWTH?

Attitudes and lifestyle that become more Christ-like. Active participation within a Christian community. A person's church membership is determined by their relationship to Christ and not based upon certain "works". However, a person who is growing in Christ, and is part of a local body of believers, will see the need to be involved in:

• Worshiping regularly
• Learning within a small group or Sunday School type setting
• Being involved in ministry based upon your giftedness. (Ex. sing, teach, participate in work camps, etc.)
• Giving of your time, talents and treasure to further His kingdom
• Sharing God's grace with others

BAPTISM SYMBOLIZES

• Inward or spiritual cleansing.
• A quitting of or deadness to sin (Romans 6:3) as viewed by going under the water.
• A new life in Christ (Romans 6:4) as seen by coming up out of the water as a resurrection.

If you would like to talk to one of the pastors about being baptized, please contact the church.