What is Baptism and Why would I do it?
Baptism is, at its essence, a symbol of what union with Christ looks like. In writing to the churches in ancient Rome, Paul wrote these words:
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. (Romans 6:3-4 ESV)
The act of baptism is a powerful physical expression of the Holy Spirit’s regenerating work in a person’s life. Baptism also signifies how we are united with Christ both in His death and in His resurrection. We are immersed in water (a type of drowning in water which represents death) and then we come up out of the water, representing us being reborn, becoming a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Baptism is also a public and community expression. It is something that is done in front of our fellow believers and friends in Christ. In this sense, baptism is just the beginning of entering our new life in Christ. It acts as a statement saying that the person being baptized is committing to follow Jesus and live in community with His people.
We can summarize baptism with three words:
OBEYING — Jesus commanded His followers to go make disciples and baptize them (Matthew 28:18-20).
SHOWING — Baptism is a picture, showing we have been united with Christ by faith. We are identified with Him, both in His death as we go down into the waters, and in His resurrected life as we are lifted out of death into newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).
TELLING — Baptism is an opportunity, for many the first opportunity, to publicly declare they are a follower of Christ. To put a stake in the ground claiming Jesus is not just their Savior, but that He is their Lord as well.
We love to baptize believers. And we’re eager to walk with you to prepare for it. We conduct baptism classes on a regular basis but are ready also to meet one-on-one at any time with someone who is being led to follow Christ in this step of obedience.
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Interested in learning more about becoming baptized? We would love to walk with you!
upcoming BAPTIsms & classes
New classes are added as interest dictates.