Baptism.
What is baptism?
A Step: it is the next step we encourage after someone becomes a Christian. (Galatians 3:26-27 says “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ”.)
A Sign: an outward profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and an expression of submission to God. (Acts 2:38 says “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”.)
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. (Romans 6:3-5 says “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”.)
Also, the water of Baptism represents the washing away of our sins as well as the cleansing of our hearts and lives before God. (Acts 22:16 says “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’)
A Sacrament: God works within us to spring to life, strengthen, and confirm our faith. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 says “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”).
What is it not?
Baptism is not the door to salvation. Baptism comes after a person has been saved by choosing to follow Jesus (Ephesians 2:8 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—)
Why should I be baptized?
Commanded by God: it signifies acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20 says “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.”)
Follows the example: Jesus himself was baptized (Matthew 3:13-17 says “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.”
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.
Every believer in the New Testament who began to follow Jesus was baptized to signify their fealty 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 Holy Spirit in himself/herself (Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:41).
If you would like to be baptized, please fill out the attached form and our staff will contact you!
