We believe that in baptism you obey Jesus, you identify with Jesus & you enter into new life with Jesus.
OBEYING JESUS
At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth, he was baptized by John. If you remember the story, as Jesus came up out of the water a voice from Heaven, God the Father, spoke and said, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus’ baptism pleased God the Father.
And then, at the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, right before he ascended to Heaven, Jesus told his disciples to go make more disciples and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
So when you are baptized, not only are you following Jesus’ example, but you are being obedient to his desire for you to be baptized into His name.
IDENTIFYING WITH JESUS
But it’s more than just obedience. In baptism, you are identifying yourself with Jesus.
Paul, who had come face to face with Jesus and turned his life around, once wrote that when we are baptized we are united with Jesus in his death, burial & resurrection. (Romans 6.1-11). In baptism we identify ourselves as followers of Jesus. People who have followed him into baptism have followed Him into death, burial and resurrection to new life.
So when you are baptized, you identify yourself as someone who has decided to live differently because of Jesus.
ENTERING NEW LIFE WITH JESUS
And the reason we live different is because we have entered into new life. Eternal life! In baptism we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5.17). As people who have walked through the waters of baptism we have been resurrected to new life.
Jesus, our resurrected King, has resurrected us from death to life.
Jesus didn’t come and die on a cross, spend three days in the grave and then be raised on the third day because we were bad and he wanted to make us better. He came because we were dead in our sin and He wanted to resurrect us to new life!
BAPTISM SUNDAY
On October 27, 2024 we will have Baptism Sunday. If you have been thinking about being baptized this is a fantastic day to do it. You can let us know that you're interested or set up a time to talk to someone about baptism on the form below.
If we can help in any way, please don’t hesitate to email us. Use the form below to send us a message. We would be glad to help you in any way we can!
We also encourage you to look at this list of Frequently Asked Questions about baptism to help you in your reflection & study.