The church conducts
Immersion Water Baptism as the need arises.
BAPTISM IS IMPORTANT
Spiritual
life involves constant progress. That progress is marked by
transitions from one level of faith to another. Baptism is the mark of
our most important transition. The act of Baptism duplicates the model
of Jesus Christ when He was crucified, buried, and returned to life.
When Christ rose, His body was different than before. He was free from
the limitations and pain of mortality. This is the transition from
death to life. The Christian life follows His pattern. We "sacrifice"
our lives by giving them to God. Our old lives, with their wrong
actions and evil desires, are "buried." God then gives us a new life,
inspired and energized by His Spirit Baptism represents this three
stage process. We believe in Jesus and join Him in His death, burial,
and resurrection. Baptism is the outward public display of what has
already taken place in a believers heart.
THE SPIRITUAL
SIGNIFICANCE
Something
happens in baptism we cannot see or control. It is the
invisible work of God's Spirit in the person being baptized. We tend to
exaggerate the external rite of Baptism and miss the more important
spiritual part. Baptism is a physical act, but isn't "magic." When
people of genuine faith are baptized as an act of obedience to Jesus,
they are publicly displaying their love and obedience for Jesus. Their
Baptism becomes a powerful witness of God's forgiveness, the end of
their old life, and the beginning of their new life in Christ. Baptism
like all other acts of obedience to Jesus flow out of our love for Him
and what he has done for us. Although no one is saved by baptism, it is
something that all believers should do because our heavenly Father asks
us to.
THE PHYSICAL RITUAL
The
act of Baptism involves being submerged in water to symbolize the
death, burial, and resurrection. In this way we "act out" our new
relationship with God and identify ourselves with His people.
WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
Every
Christian needs to be baptized and should try to make it one of
their first spiritual acts. (Matthew 28: 19) The rest of our Christian
life depends on our willingness to obey Jesus and go with Him through
death into new life. Jesus commands us to be baptized because He wants
to mark us as His own, fill us with His Spirit, make us members of His
church, and have us grow in God.
BAPTISM IS A WONDERFUL
EXPERIENCE
Jesus
does something special for you in Baptism by recognizing a point
in time when you leave the old life and enter the new. Through Baptism
He brings you another step closer to God's design for you. Our church
celebrates Baptism as an act of worship. The whole church is involved.
We sing, pray, and seek to draw close to God. When you're being
baptized, it's good to know God is near. On the other side of
your Baptism, you have examples of the newness of life in which Christ
empowers and calls us to walk.
