Literally, the word comes from the Greek word, baptizo, which means “to immerse“ or place under water.
In the church, baptism is a ceremony where those who have trusted their lives to Christ and desire to be His followers are immersed under water before the church. Baptism is a symbolic act full of meaning.
“For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.”
symbol of our identification with CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.
reminder that our SINS are FORGIVEN.
reminder that we have NEW LIFE in CHRIST.
symbol of being part of the CHURCH.
“Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.”
That is why, here at Grace, before you are baptized, we have you attend a one time class so we can ensure that you understand what it means to be a Christian.
It is also why we do not practice infant baptism. Some churches baptize their children as babies. This ceremony is intended to be a commitment by parents to raise their child in the faith, very similar to when we do a baby dedication service. Infant baptism however, is not a biblical practice. This custom began 300 years after the Bible was completed.
At Grace we wait until a child is old enough to understand the gospel and has made a personal commitment to follow Christ before we baptize them.
Ready?
If you're ready to take the next step and be baptized, please contact us and we'll let you know when the next baptism class
is. (Here's the baptism form.) See below for a video of a baptism at GCF...
