Baptism
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A Symbol: it identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It represents our death to self and sin, and our resurrection to new life in Him.
“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his”. -Romans 6:3-5 NIV
Also, the water of Baptism represents the washing away of our sins as well as the cleansing of our hearts and lives before God.
“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name". -Acts 22:16 NIV
A Sacrament: God works within us to spring to life, strengthen, and confirm our faith.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink”.
-1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV
What is it not?
Baptism is not the door to salvation. Baptism comes after a person has been saved by choosing to follow Jesus.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God". -Ephesians 2:8 NIV
Why should I be baptized?
Commanded by God: it signifies acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
“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, 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 NIV
Follows the example: Jesus himself was baptized.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” -Matthew 3:13-17 NIV
Church membership: Baptism is a prerequisite of voting membership in The Wesleyan Church.
Who can be baptized?
Anyone who has made the conscious decision to follow Jesus can be baptized.
A note about children: We don’t have a specific age we believe children should be baptized. Often the conversation can start at a very early age. Our desire is for children to be able to remember their baptism and clearly be able to articulate why they wish to be baptized. This often is around the age of 13 but it can vary. Rule of Thumb: If your child can stay home alone then they most likely have the ability to make the choice to be baptized. We prefer dedicating babies and younger children until they make the decision to be baptized for themselves.
Why not be baptized?
Apart from the thief on the Cross, every believer in the New Testament who began to follow Jesus was baptized to signify their loyalty to King Jesus (Mark 1:9), obedience to Christ (Matthew 28:19-20), and to make a public declaration of an inward transformation (Mark 16:16). Every Christian should be baptized in order to experience the fullness of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in himself/herself (Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:41).
If you would like to be baptized, contact the church today!
*Thanks to several of our Wesleyan Churches for their help in articulating the above information about baptism, especially https://croad.ca/baptism.
“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his”. -Romans 6:3-5 NIV
Also, the water of Baptism represents the washing away of our sins as well as the cleansing of our hearts and lives before God.
“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name". -Acts 22:16 NIV
A Sacrament: God works within us to spring to life, strengthen, and confirm our faith.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink”.
-1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV
What is it not?
Baptism is not the door to salvation. Baptism comes after a person has been saved by choosing to follow Jesus.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God". -Ephesians 2:8 NIV
Why should I be baptized?
Commanded by God: it signifies acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
“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, 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 NIV
Follows the example: Jesus himself was baptized.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” -Matthew 3:13-17 NIV
Church membership: Baptism is a prerequisite of voting membership in The Wesleyan Church.
Who can be baptized?
Anyone who has made the conscious decision to follow Jesus can be baptized.
A note about children: We don’t have a specific age we believe children should be baptized. Often the conversation can start at a very early age. Our desire is for children to be able to remember their baptism and clearly be able to articulate why they wish to be baptized. This often is around the age of 13 but it can vary. Rule of Thumb: If your child can stay home alone then they most likely have the ability to make the choice to be baptized. We prefer dedicating babies and younger children until they make the decision to be baptized for themselves.
Why not be baptized?
Apart from the thief on the Cross, every believer in the New Testament who began to follow Jesus was baptized to signify their loyalty to King Jesus (Mark 1:9), obedience to Christ (Matthew 28:19-20), and to make a public declaration of an inward transformation (Mark 16:16). Every Christian should be baptized in order to experience the fullness of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in himself/herself (Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:41).
If you would like to be baptized, contact the church today!
*Thanks to several of our Wesleyan Churches for their help in articulating the above information about baptism, especially https://croad.ca/baptism.