June 16th 2013 Baptismal Service

Eileen Magill, Sharon Lowden & Aylwin Pickles gave their lives to our Lord today a great celebration for all to witness , a new life in Christ Jesus.

The Purpose of Baptism:

• 
  Water Baptism identifies the believer with the Godhead –  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  
  “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.”  Matthew 28:19 (NIV) 
   
• Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. 
  “When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical
  procedure. It was a spiritual procedure--the cutting away of your sinful nature.
  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.” Colossians 2:11-12 (NLT)
  “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.”  Romans 6:4 (NIV) 
   
• Water Baptism is an act of obedience for the believer.  It should be
  preceded by repentance, which simply means “change.”  It is turning from our sin
  and selfishness to serve the Lord.  It means placing our pride, our past and all
  of our possessions before the Lord.  It is giving the control of our lives over to Him. 
  "Peter replied, 'Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and
  be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then
  you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' Those who believed what Peter
  said were baptized and added to the church--about three thousand in all.” 
  Acts 2:38, 41 (NLT)  
   
• Water Baptism is a public testimony - the outward confession of an
  inward experience. In baptism, we stand before witnesses confessing our
  identification with the Lord. 
   
• Water Baptism is a picture representing profound spiritual
  truth:
  
  Death - “I have been crucified with Christ and I no
  longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by
  faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians
  2:20 (NIV)
  Resurrection - “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.” Romans 6:4-5 (NIV) 
  “He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. So you
  should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God
  through Christ Jesus.  Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in
  to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of
  wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God
  since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what
  is right for the glory of God."  Romans 6:10-13 (NLT)
  Cleansing - “And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you
  also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience
  toward God.  It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”  I Peter  3:21 (NIV)
  “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name
  of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”  I Corinthians 6:11 (NIV)