Baptism Sunday May 18

What do I believe God wants us to know? Baptism unities us to Christ, is a profession of new life, new identity, new family, and commitment to make more disciples

Why? Baptism unities us to Jesus

What does God want us to do? To be baptized and to have others be baptized

Why? We want to be united with Jesus

Today is not just another Sunday—it’s Baptism Sunday… and that means it’s a party in heaven and a celebration right here in this room!

Today we are going to hear stories of

Freedom in Christ

Stories of Grace

New Life

People publically declaring “I have decided to follow Jesus—no turning back.”

This water itself doesn’t save anyone. We are saved by grace through faith—In baptism we are DECLARING OUR ALIGENCE TO JEUSS and being united with Christ.

My encouragement before we get there is whether this is your first time in church or you’ve followed Jesus for years—don’t just watch. Lean in. Rejoice in the stories and Remember your own rescue story. And celebrate what only God can do.

But Before people get baptized. Let remember what baptism is

It is a declaration of celebration of an outward sign/testimony of an inward grace.

What are we declaring celebrating?

Baptism is a celebration of New Life in Christ, the old life is gone

Romans 6:3–11 ESV

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore 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. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Being baptized in Jesus. Baptized in death.

What is being burried in baptism?

Our old life is has died

When a person goes under the water, it’s like a burial. It’s a way of saying: “The old me is gone.”

Our guilt? Nailed to the cross.

Our shame? Drowned in grace.

Our past? Forgiven and forgotten by God.

Our old life has been buried in Christ

AND

Raised to New Life

When someone rises from the water, it’s a picture of resurrection.

New life in Christ means being spiritually reborn—washed clean, made whole, now reconciled to God, son or daughter of King of Kings and Lord of Lords. and now living as part of God’s family, with His Spirit in you and His purpose before you.

This is not just a PAST reality and a ROCK SOLID FUTURE it is a present truth

YOUR IDENTITY HAS CHANGED

2. Clothed with Christ

Galatians 3:27 ESV

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Baptism doesn’t just wash away the past — it robes you for the future.

You are no longer a sinner saved by grace you were a sinner saved by grace.

216 holy one/saint

3. Declaration of Commitment of walking into newness of life

Romans 6:4 ESV

We were buried therefore 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.

We declaring we are going to walk in newness of life.

Ephesians 4:22–24 ESV

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Put on our new clothes

People are making a commitment to follow Jesus

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

4. Baptism is a celebration of being baptized into a new family

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

You are apart of the family God

God is the father

you are a son or daughter of God, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords

5. Commitment to live a New mission

Love God, Love others, and make disciples

We are called to live in our new identity like Christ and to

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”