Baptism
Baptism is a visible declaration of your faith and an act of obedience in your walk with Jesus. As you’re lowered into the water and lifted back up, it’s symbolic of Christ’s burial and resurrection and of your new life in Christ. Your old life has been buried and you have been raised to new life through Christ! Our recommended age for baptism is 3rd grade. Water baptisms occur several times a year. Participant will need to attend a brief prep class before being baptized. If this is your desire, please sign up below. We will contact you as to when the next water baptism will be scheduled.
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In Matthew 3:13‐17, we see the Lord Jesus Himself being baptized, in order to "fulfill all righteousness." He then went on to establish water baptism as an eternal ordinance for His church, calling every believer to follow in His footsteps, according to Matthew 28:19.
“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.” Matthew 28:19
A wedding ceremony is an outward sign that a person is married. A military uniform is an outward sign that a person is involved in that particular branch of service. Similarly, water baptism is a symbol designed by God to identify a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
However, to say that it is just a symbol takes away from the depth and beauty of water baptism. Baptism is a symbol, but it is so much more than that.
When we are saved, we are spiritually baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27), and into His Body –the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13). Baptism in water is an outward representation of this inward reality.
The word "baptize" is the English form of the Greek word "baptizo", which means "to immerse, cause to be dipped, to submerge, and to overwhelm".
Therefore in the Biblical sense, to baptize a person in water literally means to put that person wholly under the water. In Biblical symbolism, water represents inner cleansing (Ephesians 5:26, Hebrews 10:22) and spiritual rebirth (John 3:5), both of which are central themes of baptism.
Water baptism is an act of faith in which we testify, both to God and to the world, that the person we were before is dead and buried, and we are raised as a new creation in Christ.
This is clearly illustrated by these Scriptures:
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
“Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12
Water baptism for the Christian symbolizes and appropriates our death, burial and resurrection with Christ. It signifies identification
Being baptized is a command from God, not an option. It is an act that God requires of every believer that has been born again according to Romans 10:9,10. Therefore, we cannot take water baptism without first embracing the reality that it represents a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Without this, baptism is simply getting wet.
Water baptism is a very powerful reminder of God's wonderful grace. The person we were before is dead forever and we are raised with Jesus as a totally new creation.
“Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ, he is a new creation (a new creature); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
As you can see, you have absolutely nothing to lose, and everything to gain by following Jesus in water baptism. Ultimately, it all goes back to Jesus' statement in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments."
Water baptism is a simple; yet profound act of obedience that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. If you have not yet taken this step, we strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible.
Baptism is a powerful symbol of the death to our old life that and the start of the new. This is the next step on the path of transformation in Jesus. Christianity is a life long journey and baptism is significant landmark on this journey.
If this is your desire, please fill out the linked water baptism form. We will contact you as to when the next water baptism will be scheduled. Thank you.