Baptism

A Divine Ordinance

Baptism is not simply a church tradition; it is an act of obedience to Jesus’ ongoing command to all believers. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus commanded us to baptize disciples, leaving for us a practice to be followed by every believer in every generation.

A Powerful Symbol

The Greek word translated as baptism in the New Testament means “to immerse”, so it follows that the water baptism we are commanded to carry out involves immersing believers in water. As said above, this is a powerful symbol: Firstly, of our being cleansed of sin as per Acts 22:16 “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” And secondly, of us buried in a grave and then experiencing victorious new life as we come up out of the water.

An Expression of Faith

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith, and thus it is only for believers who are old enough to make a conscious and voluntary choice to accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

Invitation

If you’re a believer who has not yet been baptized, it’s time to consider this essential step in your faith journey. Sign up now and we’ll be in touch with you.

Expressing Union with Christ

Baptism beautifully symbolizes our union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Romans 6:3-4 says “We were buried… with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Of course, it is through faith alone that we are united with Christ spiritually, but baptism is a visual and symbolic representation of this profound union having taken place.

In the Name of the Triune God

When a believer is baptised, we baptize them in accordance with Matthew 28:19, “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”. This affirms that our faith rests on salvation work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – the Father called us 1 , the Son died for us 2 , and by the Spirit we are reborn 3 .

Joining the Body of Christ

Baptism not only signifies your faith but also your membership in the body of Christ—the church. In the early church baptism was closely connected with becoming a part of the faith community. And that makes sense because in Matthew 28:20 which follows the command to baptize believers, Jesus said the baptised disciples should be taught to observe Jesus’ way of life.

Remember!

Baptism is a profound public declaration of your faith and a powerful symbol of your union with Christ in his death and resurrection. We encourage you to take this step of obedience and embrace the blessings it brings to your Christian walk.