baptism

We invite you to participate in believer's baptism, an opportunity to publicly identify yourself with Jesus in his death and resurrection. This is a sacred and beautiful opportunity to declare, "I believe the best possible way to live is the way of Jesus, and I am committed to following Christ—daily dying to myself and allowing the resurrected Christ to live in and through me." Here are a few thoughts about baptism. BAPTISM IS A SYMBOL. Like a wedding or engagement ring, baptism is an outward symbol of an inner commitment. It’s a symbol of cleansing (Acts 3:19 & 1 John 1:7) as well as a symbol of burial and resurrection to new life (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12). BAPTISM IS FOR FOLLOWERS OF JESUS. “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church – about three thousand in all.” Acts 2:41 “But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12 Note that Jesus never suggested baptizing the children he blessed (Mark 10:13-16), even though his disciples were baptizing believers at that time (John 4:1-2). If baptism is a symbol of our commitment to Christ, like a wedding or engagement ring, then placing one on the finger of an infant wouldn’t make sense. BAPTISM IS DONE BY IMMERSION at ECC. The Greek word translated “baptism” in the Bible is baptizo, which literally means “to immerse, to dip, and to dunk”. So, if someone asks the question, “Can a person be baptized without being immersed?” we would say that the very word itself holds the answser. BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE YOU. In Luke 23:40-43, Jesus tells the thief hanging on the cross beside him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” There was no opportunity for baptism there. And in Acts 10:44-48 the household of Cornelius first receives the gift of salvation – the Holy Spirit – and then is baptized. Also, in 1 Corinthians 1:17 Paul says his mission is to preach the gospel, but not to baptize anyone. If baptism were the means to access salvation, this would be an odd statement to make for someone who wanted to win converts for Christ. No, it’s not our baptism, but our faith that appropriates God’s saving grace in our lives (Ephesians 2:8-9). Just like the wedding ring – wearing one doesn’t make you married, but shows that you already have been. Baptism is not a means of salvation; rather it is a beautiful picture of our union with Christ and our declaring that we join him as the New Exodus people who are a living new creation now.