Baptism immerses us in the story of Jesus.
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For thousands of years, baptism has been a defining moment on the journey of faith. Jesus started His ministry with baptism and then included baptism in His final command to His followers at the end of His ministry. When we take the step of being baptized, it immerses us into the story of Jesus. We die to all that is old and bury it under the water. We are then raised in the power of His resurrection to the new life we can experience in Him.
Baptism also serves as a powerful marker in your faith story. It is a reminder of the forgiveness, freedom, and relationship with Jesus that he initiated with you. On some days, it is hard to really believe we are still forgiven. Some days, we find ourselves wrestling with old hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Some days, we just don’t feel like Jesus is very close. Those are the days when we can cling to that moment of baptism to remember that it’s not about what we’ve done for Jesus, but what Jesus has done for us.
If you are ready to the next step with Jesus and be baptized we would love to be a part of that defining moment in your faith journey!
A Move from Death to Life: Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead. (Colossians 2:12-14)
A Brand-New Life: It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. In baptism, we bury the ‘old life’ and we rise to walk in the ‘new life’ in Christ. Baptism is the outward symbol of the commitment you made to follow Jesus on a daily basis. Baptism does not make you a believer; it shows that you already are one! (2 Corinthians 5:17 & Romans 6:4)
A New Family: Baptism connects us to the ‘body of Christ’, his people on the earth. In baptism there is a real sense of being joined with other believers, not just participating in an individual act of our own spiritual journey. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
To Follow Christ: In order to understand the reason for being water baptized, it is important to carefully consider what the Bible says about it…Jesus was baptized, yet he was not a sinner. He humbled himself in obedience to identify with us and give us an example to follow in his ways. (Mark 1:9)
As an Act of Love: Water baptism is an act of love, faith and obedience to the way of Christ. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and love others. By being baptized in water, we show God that we choose to love God and commit to acts of love toward others. (Mark 12:30-31)
To Make a Public Declaration: Baptism declares that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of your faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ. It is the next step after salvation through repentance and faith, and is an important foundation for the Christian life. (Mark 16:16)
Every person who chooses to follow the way of Christ. At Sanctuary, we offer believer’s baptism to adults, teens and children when they make a declaration of their desire to follow Jesus.
We are also open to baptizing infants as a sign and declaration of their familial connection to their Christian parents.
People in the New Testament were baptized the same day they became followers of Jesus. As the church became more organized, believers were baptized during Easter services as a public declaration of their new life. So we encourage that you get baptized soon after becoming a follower of Jesus. (Acts 2:41 & Acts 8:35-39)
Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the water and rising out of it (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10). When we are immersed in the waters of baptism, our old nature or worldly nature and our sin is dead and buried (Romans 6:3-5). This symbolizes you are no longer living for yourself but for the Kingdom.
Being lowered into the water is a symbol of the burial of Christ and you are burying your old self. Being raised from the water is a symbol of the resurrected Christ and you have a new life in God as an heir in His family and coheir with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)