Baptism
Baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo which is a nautical term meaning saturation. When ships had outlived their usefulness, mariners would take the boat out into the sea and poke holes into all of its compartments while rupturing its skin. When it was sinking, the water would overcome the air-filled compartments until the entire vessel was filled with water. The ship was said to be baptized.
Early Christians saw the parallel between this practice and God's Holy Spirit saturating a believer's life, so that the Christian became thoroughly converted; i.e., every aspect of his life would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul says in Ephesians 4:5 that there is one baptism. What we have learned, however, is that all God wants to do in a person's life is not done in one event. So, baptism is the beginning and marks the act of initiation into the Christian community. This act requires:
- a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord,
- the pouring of water, and
- the prayers of the Christian community as an outward expression of God's work to change a person's life.
The movement of the Holy Spirit within the individual's life to live within that person is what is being signified outwardly. By the pouring of water, each of these 3 elements are essential properties of baptism.
We believe that Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as His children, makes us members of Jesus' body and makes us inheritors of God's kingdom. Baptism grants us participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus, birth into God's family, forgivensss of sins and new life through the Holy Spirit. Baptism requires that we renounce Satan, repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, as well as, receive the Spirit as the new governor of our life. Both infants and adults may be baptized because the Scriptures make provision for both: adults practice "believers" baptism and children practice "household" baptism. Infants require that adults accept their vows for them until they are able and prepared to accept the promises and responsibilities of baptism themselves.
Baptisms at Living Faith are regularly scheduled on: The Baptism of Our Lord in early January, the second Sunday of Easter, Trinity Sunday (late spring/early summer) and All Saints Day in early November. Parents or guardians seeking baptism for children will be invited to participate in a group preparation process. Please call the church office at 480-831-2514 for more information about baptism.
