Baptism Signup Form
WHY BAPTISM IS IMPORTANT
- Remission of sins: Water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is believed to accomplish the washing away and forgiveness of sins, as explicitly mentioned in Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16 ("Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name").
- Obedience to Christ's command: Water baptism as an act of obedience to Jesus' command for all believers to be baptized (Matthew 28:19).
- Identification with Christ: Baptism is seen as a powerful symbol of a believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-4). The immersion in water symbolizes the burial of the "old life," and rising from the water symbolizes walking in a "new life" in Christ.
- Joining the body of Christ: Baptism grants admission into the spiritual family of God, the Church, establishing a bond of fellowship with other believers (1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:27-28).
- Taking on the name of Jesus: Acts 4:12 tells us salvation can only be found in one name, which is above every other name - Jesus. Every believer in the New Testament was baptized with the same formula of having the name of Jesus called over them in baptism. We identify as a child of God by taking on His name. Similar to a marriage ceremony, we (the bride) willingly take on the name of Jesus (the groom) in covenant relationship.