Baptism
Our first baptism this year will be Saturday June 4th 9am at the church. We will have a brief teaching then we will walk down to the ocean for the Baptism. Please place your name and contact information on the Sign-up Sheet in the rear of the Sanctuary. You may also send your contact information to Shorelinechurch@aol.com. Please put "Baptism" in the Subject Line. We will contact you with further information.
Water Baptism
An Outward Sign of an Inward Decision:
Then Jesus came from
►Ephesians 4:4-5There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith,
one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
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, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, it saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the
And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Get up, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
And he said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, and he that disbelieves shall be condemned.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.
And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
CONVERSION STORIES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
Baptism in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament is always practiced by adults who have:
a.) heard the message of the gospel (of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ ),
b.) believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and paid for their sins on the cross,
c.) turned away from their sins (repented) and
d.) turned to Christ in faith and then
e.) were fully immersed in water into Christ and into new life.
There are these five basic events, combined, that mark conversions in the New Testament:
1. Hear
2. Believe (faith)
3. Repent of our sins
4. Confess verbally faith in Jesus and
5. Be baptized (fully immersed) in water for the forgiveness of our sins.
6. Remain faithful
It’s that simple.
In the Book of Acts, these five “ingredients” all take place in a very short time period, almost as a singular event.
Baptism is…
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward decision.
Baptism is always accompanied by faith and repentance.
Baptism is God’s terms of surrender.
Baptism is our signal to God we have accepted Christ’s gospel.
Baptism is the external washing with water and the internal washing away of sin by God.
Baptism is “calling on the name of the Lord.”
Baptism is being unified with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.
Baptism is “clothing” ourselves with Christ.
Baptism is “accepting” Christ (on His terms, not ours)
Baptism is an act of faith.
Baptism is the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is the starting gun of a race of a new life.
Baptism is proclaiming in Christ the resurrection of the dead.
Baptism is when we stop living for ourselves and start living for Jesus.
Baptism is the the end of the old and the birth of the new.
Baptism although very important is not an essential for salvation
When Jesus died on the cross, He, who had no sin, paid the death penalty for our sins. Through baptism we are united, or joined with Christ in paying the death penalty for sin. We are baptized into His death, into the death penalty for sin. We, who are unable to return from death because we have sin, are joined to Christ—and since Christ is sinless and was victorious over death, we, now being united with Him through baptism, are made victorious being united with Christ in His resurrection.
Now if God allows us to participate in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (an event which occurred 2000 years ago), through baptism, it can truly be said we are saved through faith and God’s grace!
Baptism can be likened to the Israelites coming up out of the land of slavery, passing through the
But I was baptized as an infant…
Faith and repentance are prerequisites to baptism
The concept of infant “baptism” is totally foreign to the Holy Scriptures. This practice stems from the erroneous teaching of “original sin.” The Bible does not give one single example or command of any baby being baptized anywhere. The Bible does not teach babies are born separated from God. On the contrary, Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children…
But Jesus said, "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for to such belongs the
To explore the topic of infant baptism we must also look into the erroneous teaching of “original sin.” The idea behind baptizing a baby is to remove “original sin”, i.e., the sin of Adam and Eve.
But if humans are “born in sin” and separated from God, then Jesus would not have been sinless. Jesus was not 50% God and 50% man. He was 100% God and 100% man. And “He committed no sin…”
(1Peter 2:22; See also Hebrews 4:15) Sin is something we commit. Sin is not something we are born with or “in”.
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law. - 1John 3:4
The process of falling is a step-by-step process in which we turn away from God and commit acts contrary to His will:
but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. – James 1:14-15
Notice in the above verses nowhere does it even imply we are born in sin.
Paul taught that we fall short because we sinned-
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”- Romans
The word “sinned” is an active verb. It means we did something. We sinned. Although we have a disposition to sin, we are not born lost and separated from God. How can babies who can’t even yet speak, sin?
Paul reiterates this idea again:
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— Romans 5:12
Notice this does not say men were born into sin. It says death comes because we all sin. The word “sinned” is an active verb. This means we have an active hand in our own demise. It is something we do to ourselves. Sin is an act. We commit sin; We are not born condemned. The act of Adam gave men the choice to sin because sin was now present. In
Adam’s act brings death. In choosing to follow Adam’s path we die.
Jesus Christ’s act brings life. In choosing to follow Jesus’ path we live.
But whether in Adam or in Christ (the Second Adam), we make a choice. And the end result is a result of that choice.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.-- Romans
Or in other words:
In Adam, we do not die until we choose to disobey.
In Christ we do not live until we choose to obey.
But the end result of either is from the choice we make to obey or disobey. Both choices we have exist in the world as a result brought about by the actions of these “
Adam’s disobedience doesn’t make every baby born lost anymore than Christ’s death automatically makes every human being found. Through Adam, sin has been set before us. Through Christ, righteousness has been set before us. If every human was born separated from God because Adam sinned and died, then every human being would be spiritually alive (saved) because Jesus obeyed and lives. But we can’t be saved unless we make a decision and choose to follow Christ. Likewise, we don’t die spiritually until we choose to disobey God—and sin. When Adam’s “eyes were opened” he realized he had a choice—and we know what choice he made. Ultimately, whether we live or die, comes about by a choice we make.
Another problem with the doctrine of “original sin” is that it teaches people they don’t have to take responsibility for their own sins.
Paul explains that there was a time when he was alive once (probably meaning as a child), but when God’s Law came (and he broke it), he died—just as Adam and Eve died when they sinned.
“For I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died.” – Romans 7:9
Even in the Old Testament there is evidence to reason that babies are not born lost and separated from God:
"Why didn't I die from the womb? Why didn't I give up the spirit when my mother bore me? Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck? For now should I have lain down and been quiet. I Should have slept, then I would have been at rest
The Bible often uses the term “sleep” and “rest” to describe a person who has died and gone to heaven.
The reasoning behind the error of baptizing babies and infants is to remove “original sin” so that if they die they will go to heaven. But the Bible teaches each man is accountable to God for his own sins, not the sins of others. Ask your Jewish friends. The concept of “original sin” is foreign to Judaism.
Yet say you, Why does not the son bear the iniquity of the father? when the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live. The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. –
and
"Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin," --Deuteronomy 24:16
We are not held responsible to God for Adam’s sin. Babies are not born separated from God. Therefore there is no need to remove “original sin.” Baptizing an infant is an attempt to remove sin that is not there. Sin is disobeying God’s commands. Sin is falling short of His laws. What command has a baby disobeyed? Babies are not lost.
This is why we only find believing, repentant adults, who have made conscious decisions to follow Christ, being baptized in the scriptures!
#1.) an infant does not hear or understand the Gospel of Christ
#2.) an infant cannot therefore believe in Jesus
#3.) More importantly, an infant has no sin and therefore has nothing to repent of, and needs no forgiveness.
Faith must always precede baptism.
Once a child grows and matures and becomes disobedient (and therefore sins) baptism can then enter the equation along with faith and repentance. No one knows what this “age of accountability” is, however; each person is different.
One final statement on Baptism:
Although we do not believe that baptism is essential for Salvation, if a believer is able to be Baptised it should be done, in fact, it should be a desire of the believer to be baptised. In the end, however, it is your decision, and we are all saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.