Orchard Grove Community Church

Baptism

Our next Baptism will be held on Sunday, February 12th during both services.
A mandatory Baptism class will be held after each service on Sunday, February 5th. Contact Pastor Bright at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.




    WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM?

1. It symbolizes Christ's burial and resurrection.

"Christ died for our sins... He was buried... and He rose again." -- I Cor. 15:3-4

2. It symbolizes my new life as a Christian.

"When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!" --2 Cor. 5:17
"By our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... so also we may live a new life!" --Rom. 6:4

Baptism doesn't magically make you a believer - it simply to show that you already believe. Baptism does not "save" you; only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring - it's the outward symbol of the commitment you make in your heart.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." --Ephesians 2:8,9

WHY BE BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION?

1. Because Jesus was baptized that way.

"As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water." --Matt. 3:16

2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion.

(Example) "...then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water..." --Acts 8:38-39

The word Baptize means "To dip under water". The Greek work Baptizo means "To immerse or dip under water". It best symbolized a burial and resurrection!

WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?

Every person who has believed Christ.

"Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized..." --Acts 2:41

At Orchard Grove, we wait until our children are old enough to accept Christ as their Savior and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them.

Some churches practice a "baby or children's dedication" for their children. This ceremony is intended to be a covenant between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed. This is different from the baptism talked about in the Bible which was only for those old enough to make a personal confession of their faith in Christ. At Orchard Grove, we encourage everyone to be baptized the way Jesus demonstrated.

WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

As soon as you have believed.

"Those who believe...were baptized...that day!" --Acts 2:41
"Then Philip began with the scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, ´Look, here is water! Why shouldn't I be baptized right now?´ Philip said, ´If you believe with all your heart, you may.´ The man answered, ´I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.´ So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him."--Acts 8:35-38

There is no reason to delay. As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized. If you wait until you are "perfect", you'll never feel "good enough".