Palm Sunday Baptismal Service

BAPTISMAL SERVICE FOR STERLING AND RUSSET HUEBERT-STAUFFER AND RUBY SHAVER Spring Valley Mennonite; April 10, 2022; Selected passages This is a very special service as we join together to witness and participate in a baptismal service for Sterling, Russet and Ruby. We will begin with examining what the Bible says about baptism, listen to some testimonies from those who have observed these three as they have grown up, listen to personal testimonies from them of their personal faith in Jesus Christ, followed by the ordinance of baptism. What does the Bible teach about baptism? I. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT BAPTISM BAPTISM is one of two ordinances of the New Testament instituted by Jesus Christ, the Lord's Supper being the second. It is intended to be, to the person baptized, a sign of his fellowship with Christ in His death and resurrection, and of his being inserted or placed in Christ, and of the remission of sins. It also indicates that the person being baptized has given himself up to God, through Jesus Christ, so that he may live and conduct himself in newness of life. The only persons who can rightly submit themselves to this ordinance are those who profess repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, being willing to yield obedience to Him. Believer's baptism is publicly identifying with Jesus Christ. It is a public proclamation that "I am a Christian." The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, in which the believer is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Jesus commanded that we baptize new believers in Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Believer's Baptism is a symbol which publicly signifies several things: * Our union with Christ, especially in his death and resurrection. Rom. 6:3-5 (Turn and read) Water baptism symbolizes the Spirit baptism that occurs when one places his or her faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. * It also symbolizes the washing away of our sins. [Acts 22:16 (Literally, "having called on the Lord"), 1 Pet. 3:21-Ryrie: "Though water cannot save, baptism with water is the vivid symbol of the changed life of one who has a conscience at peace with God through faith in Christ."] * Baptism in water symbolizes the death of our old, sin-controlled self and new life granted by Christ alone. [Rom. 6:5-6] The power of our old self has been broken and we no longer HAVE to yield to it. (We are no longer SLAVES to sin.) * Baptism symbolizes the giving of the Holy Spirit, given at the time of conversion. [Acts 2:38] * Baptism reminds us of our repentance from sin. [Acts 2:38] * Baptism publicly identifies us with Christ and His church, the universal church of all believers. 1 Cor. 12:27: "Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it." In our Mennonite tradition, baptism signifies becoming a member of Spring Valley Church. * Baptism, very significantly, is a public pledge to live out the new life given to us in Christ. [Rom. 6:1-11] Christ's call to baptism is for me a public expression of faith in Christ and repentance for sin and that I now desire to give myself up to Christ by faith as the only Savior of sinners, to repent of my sins, and to engage to walk according to the new life that Christ alone gives. II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME TO BE BAPTIZED? It means that I have accepted with a believing heart the death and burial and resurrection of Christ for me. It signifies and affirms that I am believing that I am washed of all my sins and am granted eternal life. It means that I have come out in the open with an observable, life-long commitment to follow Jesus Christ wherever He may lead. Baptism does not wash away my sins or grant me new life. Only Christ can remove my sins, and that happens when I first place my faith in Him. Baptism and faith are simply the outside and the inside of the same thing. But Christ has given me baptism as an outward sign of my inward change? III. WHAT BENEFITS THEN DO I RECEIVE BY BEING BAPTIZED? There is great value in publicly confessing my belief in the death and resurrection of our Lord, proclaiming before the world that the death and resurrection of Christ are necessary to save me. Romans 10:8 connects "confessing with my mouth Jesus as Lord" along with "believing in my heart" with our salvation. Through baptism, my inner and subjective faith is given visible and concrete expression, and a significant milestone is established in my Christian life. I am publicly received into a family of believers who are gifted to help me live for Christ. I am assured and strengthened by the sovereign work of Christ in this ceremony that He has ordained for my good. As we now move into the ordinance of baptism, I have asked each candidate to have someone give a word of testimony regarding their faith in Christ and growth as a believer. After each testimony on their behalf, I will ask each one to give a personal word of testimony. After their testimony, I will baptize each one after asking some questions. We will begin with Russet: IV. TESTIMONIES: a. Testimony of others b. Personal testimony (When did you ask Jesus to be your personal Savior and to forgive your sins? Why do you want to be baptized?) V. Baptismal Ceremony Questions: * Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and trust in Him alone for forgiveness of your sins? (If so, answer "I have.") * Do you hereby pledge to follow Christ and His teachings with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit? (If so, answer "I do so pledge.") * Do you covenant by the grace of God to faithfully follow Jesus Christ in all of life; to be faithful to God in worship, study, witness and fellowship in Christ's Church and mission in the world? (If so, answer "I do so covenant.") * Pronouncement of baptism: Upon your personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. * Prayer of blessing 2