membership

Baptism

Read through the following information. Once you finish and agree with it, contact Pastor Bob at (209) 826-7575 and he will arrange a meeting and schedule your baptism.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Heb 6:2 NIV)

In the Greek, the term "baptidzo" means; "to immerse or dip". It was commonly used to describe the process of immersing one color cloth into a dye to give it a different color. This is why we practice baptism by immersion when possible.

Jewish Baptisms: The term "baptism" and its practice pre-date Christianity. Baptisms were performed by the Jews upon those who were not Hebrew but wanted to align themselves with the belief systems of the Judaism. Because the Jews considered themselves "clean" and all other people groups "dirty", they required baptism as a symbol of the cleansing they felt needed to take place to become a Jew. Baptism was to them a form of ritualistic purification.

Throughout history the meaning of the term "baptism" became progressively more Biblical. Some elements of the previous usage are advanced in meaning and significance.

John’s baptism: John's baptism was not the true Christian (“Believer’s) baptism. He borrowed the term and applied new meaning. "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." (Acts 19:4 NIV)

John was asking people to admit their sinfulness and change their ways (repent), to adopt God's standard of behavior (righteousness) and to stand ready to receive the coming Messiah (readiness). These were the three elements of his baptism. He was asking them to align themselves with his message and to publicly declare their belief in his message through baptism. In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Mat 3:2 NIV) 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. (Mat 3:11 NIV)

The Believer’s Baptism: Those who accepted his message were (then) baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41 NIV) Acceptance of the gospel message must precede baptism. The gospel message is defined as; trusting in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the only criteria for (believer’s) baptism.

Baptism is an act of obedience. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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." (Mat 28:18-20 NIV)

Baptism carries with it the idea of publicly testifying of faith in Christ and the desire to live for Him. It not only means you’ve chosen to follow Jesus, it also implies that you’ve chosen to renounce any former belief system or way of living. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (1 John 2:6 NIV)

The believer’s baptism is also rich in symbolism. The book of Romans gives us much of the symbolic meaning behind baptism; 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. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. (Rom 6:3-5 NIV)

It is symbolic of the following:

• It symbolizes our union with Christ. Just as a white cloth and purple dye are in union with each other once the cloth is dipped in the dye, the believer’s union with Christ is symbolized through baptism.

• It symbolizes our newness with Christ. Just as the white cloth dipped in purple dye emerges as a completely new cloth we too, are new creations in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

• It symbolizes our death to our old way of living and believing. The act of being lowered in the water symbolizes our death to our old way of living and believing.

• It symbolizes our resurrection. The act of rising out of the water symbolizes our new and eternal life.

Problem Passages on Baptism.

1. "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" (Mark 10:38 NIV) Here the term "baptism" is used to mean the immanent death of Jesus upon the cross.

2. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16 NIV) Some see this as proof that baptism has regenerative qualities. However the use of only the term "believe" in the second clause refutes this assumption

3. 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. (Rom 6:3,4 NIV) Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. (Col 2:12 NIV) These passages use the term “baptism” to speak symbolically about what occurs when a person trusts Christ. The term “baptism” here stands for the unity the believer has with Christ as a Christian. It means that through faith we were united with Christ (baptized) in his death (as we died to the power of sin). Much like in a literal resurrection, a person experiences new life, we too experienced new transformed life

4. 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 NIV) The terms "repent" and "your" are singular and are therefore linked. The term "baptized" is plural and therefore stands outside the scope of the main point of the passage; I.e.; "forgiveness" and "the gift of the Holy Spirit."

5. Because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them (Samaritans); they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 8:16 NIV) The Samaritans were not on friendly terms with the Jews. The reason they did not receive the Holy Spirit upon salvation until the Jewish Apostles showed up was so that the Jews would understand that everyone is eligible for the blessing of salvation. In addition the Samaritans needed to know that the truth about God was being delivered through the Jews. It kept the Samaritans from developing their own separate brand of Christianity. By delaying the gift of the Holy Spirit God united the people together in His Son.

6. Charismatic theology uses passages like these to support the belief in a secondary "blessing" of the Holy Spirit. However the Bible is clear that there is only one baptism and that is the baptism of the believer into the body of Christ. One Lord, one faith, one baptism; (Eph 4:5 NIV) The book of Acts is declarative not doctrinal in nature. Doctrine should not be built on events that just occur in Acts. The issue is settled by asking the question; "Is what was needed to begin the Church age (signs and wonders) necessary to sustain the Church age?" Due to the canonization of Scripture in 397 AD at the Council of Carthage we have an authoritative text to rely upon. We don't have the need for authority to be verified on the basis of "tongues, healing, prophecy, "holy laughter", animal sounds, etc." Two of the consequences of the charismatic theology are division and doubt among the body of Christ at large and even within the charismatic community.

7. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. (Acts 22:16 NIV) It is "calling on His name" that washes away your sins not baptism.

8. Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? (1 Cor 15:29 NIV) Paul is not advocating the Mormon practice of baptism for the dead. His is making a point about the doctrine of resurrection. Some denied the truth of resurrection. He pointed out how foolish it was for them to practice baptism if they did not believe in resurrection.

9. Why did Jesus take part in John’s baptism?

• To affirm his true identity. When 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 lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Mat 3:17 NIV

• To fulfill Jesus’ identification with humanity. Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. 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? Then John consented.

Details on the actual ceremony.

I will ask you if you are trusting in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and the guarantee of eternity with God in heaven.

I may ask you to thank one or two people who God has placed in your life who have helped to get to the point of desiring to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior in a public act of obedience.

After changing into your baptism clothes you'll be asked to step into the pool (Jacuzzi). I'll simply state the following; "On the basis of the testimony of your faith in Christ and your desire to live for Him I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit". You'll then scamper off to change your clothes and then join us for a time of fellowship.

What to wear: Bring a towel. Wear a bathing suit with a large white T-shirt. The shirt should be unmarked. We don't want anything to detract from the moment. Women are encouraged to dress as modestly as possible.

Because Baptism is a public testimony of your faith in Christ you must have already received the Lord as your Savior. " Those who accepted his message were baptized, (Acts 2:41 NIV) If you have any doubts about this please read through salvation information on the website.

Because Baptism is a public testimony of your desire to live for Christ you must have a lifestyle that is free of immorality and offers a holy testimony about Jesus to this community. "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." (1 John 2:6 NIV).

I look forward to hearing from you,
Pastor Bob Niemond (209) 826-7575