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Baptism
Basics
The Why
and How of Baptism
Full immersion
baptism was practiced by Jews of the time. It was (and is) an outward
sign of total commitment (hence complete immersion) and total forgiveness
(the entire body is washed of sin).
- "I
baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who
is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Matthew 3:11)
John the Baptist is speaking of the coming of Jesus Christ.
- Jesus
was baptized. If we claim to be followers of Him, we should do what
He thought to be important. "Then Jesus came from Galilee to
the Jordan to be baptized by John." (Matthew 3:13)
- Baptism
is symbolic of God's forgiveness of you for all your sins. "Peter
replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38).
- Baptism
occurred right after an individual accepted the message of Jesus Christ. "Those who accepted His message were baptized, and about three
thousand were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:41).
- Jesus
commanded everyone to baptize individuals in His name. "Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
The Symbolism
of Baptism
Baptism
is symbolic. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that it is necessary for
salvation. Salvation comes by acceptance of Jesus Christ and confession
of your sins.
-
As you
go underwater, think of it as a "death." Unable to breathe
underwater, you would die. But as you come up out of the water, you
come "alive."
-
We all
are going to die, or stay underwater. But it is Christ's forgiveness
of our sins, that washing away of our "filth" that makes us
come alive. Jesus pulls us out of death and saves our lives.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to
put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new
self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24)
-
Your
old sinful nature dies when you accept the new spiritual nature found
in God. Old self dies (underwater) and new self rises to the surface. "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die;
but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you
will live…." (Romans 8:13)
Why do I
have to be baptized again if I was baptized as a baby or I've been sprinkled
in another church?
-
In every
account of the New Testament, baptism was a conscious act of obedience
to the Lord following a person's commitment to trust and follow Him.
-
Obviously
as a baby, we don't have the reasoning power to know what we're doing.
We do something similar with babies in our church, but its called Parent/Child
Dedication, where your child is presented to the church and you commit
to bringing up that child in a loving Christian home. We, as a church,
also commit to helping you by praying, teaching, encouraging and helping
you in any way we can to fulfill that commitment.
If you would
like to be baptized, contact the church office @ 805-482-2657, ext. 105
so that we can schedule your appointment. Please leave your name and phone
number so we can call you.
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