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)