Baptism

To participate or for more details, phone Tory Parish at 407.876.2234 x230 or email her.

Why Full Immersion?

Full immersion baptism was practiced by Jews of the time. It was (and is) an outward sign of total commitment (hence complete immersion) and total forgiveness (the entire body is washed of sins).

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." John the Baptist speaking of the coming of Jesus Christ Matthew 3:1

Jesus Was Baptized

If we claim to be followers of Him, we should do what He thought to be important. "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John". Matthew 3:13.

Baptism is symbolic of God's forgiveness of you for all your sins. Peter replied, "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." Acts 2:38

Baptism occurred right after an individual accepted the message of Jesus Christ. "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day". Acts 2:41

Jesus commanded everyone to baptize individuals in His name. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

Baptism is Symbolic

Nowhere in the Bible does it state that it is necessary for salvation. Salvation comes by acceptance of Jesus Christ and confession of your sins. As you go underwater, think of it as a "death." Unable to breathe underwater, you would die. But as you come up out of the water, you come "alive." We all are going to die, or stay underwater. But it is Christ's forgiveness of our sins, that washing away of our "filth" that makes us come alive. Jesus pulls us out of death and saves our lives.

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

Your old sinful nature dies when you accept the new spiritual nature found in God. Old self dies (underwater) and new self rises to the surface."For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live..." Romans 8:13

Why do I have to be baptized again if I was baptized as a baby or I've been sprinkled in another church? In every account of the New Testament, baptism was a conscious act of obedience to the Lord following a person's commitment to trust and follow Him. Obviously as a baby, we don't have the reasoning power to know what we're doing. We do something similar with babies in our church, but it's called Parent/Child Dedication, where your child is presented to the church and you commit to bringing up that child in a loving Christian home. We, as a church, also commit to helping you by praying, teaching, encouraging and helping you in any way we can to fulfill that commitment.

If you would like to be baptized, please contact Tory Parish at 407.876.2234 x230 or email her.