Baptismal Appointment
A baptismal appointment
usually lasts between 30-60
minutes.
If you would like to be
baptized please
contact the church
office.
Christ
and Baptism
The last words of Jesus
in
Matthew
28:18-20 are
often referred to as the
Great Commission. This
commission includes
instruction about
baptism. It is important
to note that this
instruction is based on
the authority that
Christ has received from
His Heavenly Father. As
Christians share their
faith, they need to do
so with the intent of
making disciples of
those who trust in
Christ as their Savior.
Jesus taught that
disciple-making included
both baptizing and
teaching. The order is
important. Often much
teaching and waiting
transpires before
baptism takes place. The
Bible indicates however,
that baptism should be
one of the first acts of
obedience in the new
believer's life.
Our
Identification
Baptism is a public
identification of the
Christian with their
Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ. It is God's
chosen means by which
every believer should
share their faith in
Christ. Only those who
have come to a personal
salvation experience
with Jesus Christ should
be baptized.
Believer's Baptism
Just as wearing a
wedding ring doesn't
make you married, so
baptism doesn't make you
a Christian. Baptism by
immersion is a divine
picture of a Christian's
new life in Christ.
Going fully under the
water reminds us that we
are dead to sin, whereas
coming up out of the
water causes us to
remember our new life in
Christ. Baptism is an
external symbol of an
internal reality just as
is the wedding ring.
Baptism By Immersion
Baptism by immersion,
going fully under the
water, is the form that
seems to best fits the
New Testament teachings.
The word itself means
primarily to immerse or
to dip. Further, when
John the Baptist was
baptizing in Aenon near
Salim, he did so because
there was much water
there,
John 3:23. The
Ethiopian said, See,
here is water. What
hinders me from being
baptized?
Acts 8:36. Finally,
the believer's death to
sin, and their
resurrection to new life
in Christ, is best
illustrated by
immersion,
Romans 6:4-6.
Infants and Baptism
Since baptism is a
picture of what Christ
has done in the life of
the new convert it is
inappropriate to baptize
infants. Many however do
dedicate their infants
to the Lord in a
Parent-Child Dedication.
If you would like to
publicly dedicate your
child than call the
church office for more
details.
Children and Baptism
The issue is simple. Has
the child entered into a
personal relationship
with Jesus Christ? Do
they comprehend that
they were sinners? Do
they understand that
Christ had to die for
their sins? Do they
trust in Christ alone
for eternal life? Often
preschool child are not
able to understand the
symbolism involved in
baptism. Therefore it is
suggested that they not
be encouraged to be
baptized. Older children
will need to be able to
give a clear salvation
testimony. It is the
responsibility of the
parents to instruct
their child in the
nature and significance
of baptism. Because the
Bible puts no age
restrictions, neither do
we, only that they
comprehend the
significance of
believer's baptism by
immersion.
Some
Baptized in the New
Testament
-
Jesus Christ,
Matthew 3:13-15,
Then Jesus came from
Galilee to the
Jordan to be
baptized by John.
But John tried to
deter him, saying,
"I need to be
baptized by you, and
do you come to me?"
Jesus replied, "Let
it be so now; it is
proper for us to do
this to fulfill all
righteousness." Then
John consented.
-
A Political
Leader,
Acts 8:35-38,
... As they traveled
along the road, they
came to some water
and the eunuch said,
"Look, here is
water. Why shouldn't
I be baptized?" And
he gave orders to
stop the chariot.
Then both Philip and
the eunuch went down
into the water and
Philip baptized him.
-
A Clothing Dealer,
Acts 16:14-15,
One of those
listening was a
woman named Lydia, a
dealer in purple
cloth from the city
of Thyatira, who was
a worshiper of God.
The Lord opened her
heart to respond to
Paul's message. When
she and the members
of her household
were baptized, she
invited us to her
home.
-
A Jailor,
Acts 16:30-33,
..."Sirs, what must
I do to be saved?"
They replied,
"Believe in the Lord
Jesus, and you will
be saved-- you and
your household."
Then they spoke the
word of the Lord to
him and to all the
others in his house.
At that hour of the
night the jailer
took them and washed
their wounds; then
immediately he and
all his family were
baptized.
-
A Synagogue Ruler,
Acts 18:8,
Crispus, the
synagogue ruler, and
his entire household
believed in the
Lord; and many of
the Corinthians who
heard him believed
and were baptized.