What is the meaning of Baptism?

Through the Holy Spirit, God assures us a baptism that our sins have been forgiven.  Sinless himself, Jesus paid for our sins with his life.  He did this so that all people may live as one according to God’s will.  At baptism, the Holy Spirit marks us as God’s own – and enables us to accept God’s forgiveness through repentance.

Is Baptism required for us to be saved?

Jesus’ baptism was a kind of burial by water that foreshadowed his death on the cross.  At our own baptism each of us also dies with Christ.  But Jesus conquered death.  So his victory over death is our victory, too.  But being baptized does not guarantee that we will go to heaven; we must fulfill the new life into which we were born.  And we do not believe that people who have not been baptized will necessarily be denied salvation. 

Why is Baptism Important?

At Baptism we receive the promise of God’s love.  This promise enables us to find new life with God and the Church.  We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at our baptism and enter a new life, new family and new love based on Christ.  Death and darkness are left behind.  We become part of God’s Kingdom.  Baptism represents our first step on the journey of faith.  It assures us of God’s presence as we travel through life.

Why is Baptism part of public worship?

The vows we take during are a public confession of faith, not private – it’s a statement of faith made in the presence of others.  Through baptism, we become members of God’s family.  Each of us is joined as brother or sister with members of our congregation and with Christians everywhere.

Why is water used as a part of Baptism?

Water is the special sign of our oneness with Christ.  It is the everyday element by which God’s promise at Baptism comes to us.  Water cleanses and renews us, just as Jesus Christ cleanses our sins from us.  It is the simply life-giving sign of God’s grace.

What is God’s role in Baptism?

We believe that the Holy Spirit descends on us in Baptism.  The Holy Spirit is the seal that confirms our union Christ at Baptism.  Through the action of the Holy Spirit, baptism brings us God’s promise of love.  It nourishes our faith.  It unites us in fellowship with Christ and with all people who accept Christ. 

What is the Parent’s role in the Baptism of an infant?

Parents are vital in fostering a child’s spiritual growth.  Their responsibility is to:

♦  Bring their child to God to be baptized.

♦  Promise to raise their children in the Christian faith.

♦  Profess their own faith in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

♦  Receive God’s promise of grace for their children.

♦  Make the child aware of God.

♦  Pray with and for the child.

♦  Set a good example of Christian living.

♦  Instruct the child in the faith of the church.

♦  Build a family based on the spirit of kindness, respect and forgiveness.

     What is the role of the Presbyterian church community in Baptism?

The responsibility of the church is to

♦  Celebrate the joy of Baptism

♦  Welcome new members into the life of the church.

♦  Support each member during life’s trials and spiritual struggles.

♦  Enrich the faith of other Christians.

Who do we baptize?

Infants.  Bringing your children to be baptized is one of the most important things you can do as a parent.  No matter how young the child is, God send the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Naturally a baby is too small to know what baptism is all about.  So, parents bring their child for baptism on the basis of their own faith with the hope that the child will grow in faith, and love and serve God. 

Young People and Adults.  Adults and youth who wish to publicly confess their faith and enter the Church (and who haven’t been previously baptized) can be baptized after a period of instruction and a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.  The goal of preparation is to help persons coming to baptism claim the faith as their own so they may share actively in the life, work and mission of the Church.

How does Baptism affect daily life?

Because of the power of God’s love, baptism can be a never-ending source of spiritual strength each day, bringing you:

♦  Assurance of forgiveness of your sins and the sins of others.

♦  Obedience to God’s will.

♦  Humility through knowing god’s greatness as the Creator of life.

♦  Faith in God, in Jesus, in other people, and in yourself.

♦  Peace through relief from turmoil, doubt and confusion.

♦  Joy in these and all the other gifts of the Holy Spirit.

♦  Hope for eternal fellowship with Christ.

What happens in the Sacrament of Baptism?

1.     Presentation.  After the minister proclaims God’s Word in a sermon, parents (or guardians) bring their child forward for baptism and promise to help him or her grow in faith.  Adults ask to be baptized.  The minister reminds the congregation and parents of the Biblical meaning of Baptism.

2.     Parental Vows.  The minister asks the parents to reaffirm their own faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and their intention to bring up their child in that faith and discipleship.

3.     Profession of Faith and Promise.  The entire congregation promises to love and care for the newly baptized as brothers and sisters in a new family, and to provide an example of faith and love.

4.     Thanksgiving and Prayer.  The congregation offers God a prayer of praise and thanks.  It then calls on the Holy Spirit to make each baptism a sign of new life in Christ.

5.     Washing with Water.  The minister says, “(name), I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  The minister then pours or sprinkles water over the candidate’s head.

6.     Charge to the Parents and the Congregation.  The minister charges the parents and the congregation to be faithful in the fulfillment of their responsibility for the spiritual nurture of this child and all children in the Christian community.

7.     Welcome.  The minister welcomes the newly baptized person into the congregation and proclaims him or her a member of God’s family.

What is the History of Baptism?

The Old Testament.  Water has always been an important symbol.  In Old Testament days, it was used in cleansing rituals to purify the body.  In Jewish culture, Gentile converts were immersed in water as part of their initiation into the Jewish faith.

John the Baptist.  Sinners were baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.  He proclaimed that the Day of Judgment was soon at hand, and urged people to confess their sins.  For John, baptism in water was a special sign that a person had repented and accepted God’s goodness and mercy.

Baptism of Jesus.  John the Baptist also baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.  When Jesus came out of the water, a voice spoke from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove.  In this way, Jesus was united with God’s will and found renewed strength to carry out his mission.  Jesus was also united with all people who share God’s promise and bring their sins to the water of Baptism.

The Command to Baptize.  Later, on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee, Jesus gave this command to the disciples:

The Sacrament of Baptism is given only once to a person.  But it’s a source of strength throughout life—such is the power of God’s love.