Position and Structure of Baptism Our church believes that baptism is an act of obedience for the person who personally accepts Jesus Christ as Savior. Baptism is not required for membership at gracespring, nor is it a prerequisite for participating in the Lord’s Supper (Communion). We practice immersion in our ordinance of baptism, and we generally borrow or rent another church’s baptismal when we baptize. We try to hold at least two baptismal services per year. We encourage Christian parents to help us teach the significance of baptism to their children. A brief baptismal class taught by a deacon or pastor will be held prior to each baptismal service. What is Baptism? Baptism is a procedure where an individual makes a public declaration that Jesus Christ has been received as personal Savior. After a brief word of personal testimony is given by the pastor or the individual, the person is completely immersed, one time, in water. Why do we Baptize? 1. Jesus commanded us to baptize. Matthew 28:19-10 “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.” (NIV) 2. Baptism was practiced in the New Testament church. Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (NIV) 3. Baptism is a public way of declaring a personal relationship with Christ and a desire to follow him. Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (NIV) Acts 10:47-48 “ ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” But why do we use the “immersion” method of baptism as opposed to sprinkling or pouring? 1. The Greek word is baptizo, which means . . . a. to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk) b. to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe c. to overwhelm In light of this definition, we believe the most clear fulfillment of this command suggests the immersion method of baptism. 2. The immersion method also allows for the symbolic representation that every Christian who is “in Christ” identifies with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, as suggested by Romans 6:4-6 Romans 6:4-6 “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. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” (NIV)