Baptism

Since New Testament times, baptism has been an important tradition of the church. But it is more than a tradition. It is a critical act of obedience through which Christ-followers publicly identify with their Savior, Jesus Christ, and his Body, the local church. The waters of baptism powerfully symbolize the reality of salvation by faith in Christ alone. The spiritual deadness that accompanies being a sinner has been buried forever and in its place God has raised the believing sinner to new life in Christ.

At Grace, we believe the ordinance of baptism is a voluntary act by which the regenerate Christ-follower publicly testifies to his or her salvation, identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ through immersion, and unites with the local congregation as a member of the body of Christ. Baptism is a community creating event and is to be part of the corporate gathered worship of the church.[1]

Baptism is not just something reserved for the spiritual elite. Rather, baptism is:

Baptism does not confer salvation in any way.  Rather, is an expression and celebration of saving faith. Both the command to be baptized, and the pattern of the New Testament and early church, call every Christ-follower to obey Christ by publicly affirming their identification with him through baptism. Baptism is a powerful representation, not of what the believer receives, but of the saving work of God in them.

We believe water baptism by full immersion best expresses what baptism symbolizes — identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ – as described by the Apostle Paul:

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Romans 6:3-4 

Baptism and church membership are intended to be embraced together. Baptism is a church-life act that exemplifies the believer’s connection to Christ and to His Body, the church. Having a right understanding of baptism means having a right understanding of the importance of the church. When an individual is baptized here, they are being baptized into the family of Grace, committing to gather together to worship, engage one another for growth and encouragement, and reach together into this city and this world with the hope of the Gospel. Baptism is all about identification with Christ and commitment to His Church.

[1] Grace Baptist Statement of Faith, What We Teach About the Church.

Interested in being baptized? Let us know!