Baptism

What is baptism?

Baptism is submersion in water that represents Christ atoning sacrifice for us by his dying on the cross for our sins. It is belief that through His sacrifice we are restored to God so we do this. We then raise from the water which symbolizes us being cleansed by His blood and walking in newness of life as mentioned in Romans 6:3,4

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.

Colossians 2:12

English Standard Version Chapter 2

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

So we are baptised in front of our family and in front of the church and in front of the world. We are doing what Christ did in Matthew 3:13-17

English Standard Version Chapter 3

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

We then being baptised is a picture of what Jesus has done, publically being like Christ, walking in newness of life and saying we are believers in Christ and will follow in his steps. In the Great Commission, before Christ ascended into heaven, He commanded his followers

Matthew 28:16-20

English Standard Version Chapter 28

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are doing what Christ commanded by doing this.

Baptism is not salvation but is a physical act of obedience to God by practicing this ordinance. It is by faith and belief and receiving the free gift of God which is salvation through Jesus that we are saved. Once we come to that saving knowledge, we are baptised which represents our commitment to this.

Romans 10:9-13

English Standard Version Chapter 10

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

So, once we are saved we are baptised. In

Acts 2:37-39

English Standard Version Chapter 2

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Acts 10:44-48

English Standard Version Chapter 10

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

We practise this as a Church to do what the Bible says and to follow in the footsteps of our Savior in God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are one just as it says

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

English Standard Version Chapter 12

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 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.

Understanding this. We then who have understood that we are sinners, God send His Son as a free gift to sdave us from our sins and seperation from God and through accepting this and believing this and being saved through Christ’s sacrifice we are baptised and as a body once baptised we encourage one another to continue in faith in God and when we fall, we get back up and continue in the faith until we are with Him again forever more.

So what i would like us to do is to write out a testimony of how we came to that knowledge and before we are baptised we will share those stories and then we can discuss baptism in more details afterwards.