Baptism
- While there are no formal classes one must take at C3 church prior to Baptism, we do require that a believer completely understands what being Baptized in the name of The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit means. In order to accomplish this, we require that a person has made a regular commitment to attendance at our church for a period of time and has come into fellowship with the congregation for education, edification and accountability.
- In other words, we want to get to know you and we want you to know what Baptism really means.
- Baptism is an outward sign of a believer “dying” to themselves and rising into a new life in Christ Jesus. It is a public proclamation of loyalty and a new life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
- Jesus gave the following prerequisites:
- The Cost of Being a Disciple Luke 14:25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
- While there may be some hyperbole on Jesus' part, the point is clear, this is something that The Lord wants us to consider carefully and then commit to.
- Baptism is about more than just being a follower, it is about becoming a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, which is something He wants us to take seriously and consider carefully. It means that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we should see obedience and change.
- Acts 2:38 "Each of you must repent of 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 desiring to be Baptized must affirm (answer yes to) the following questions: Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces
- of wickedness that rebel against God?
- Do you renounce the evil powers of this world
- which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
- Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you
- from God?
- Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your
- Savior?
- Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
- Do you promise to follow and obey him as your
- Lord?
- Do you believe in God the Father?
- Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
- And the following about Him:
- He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
- and born of the Virgin Mary.
- He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
- was crucified, died, and was buried.
- On the third day he rose again.
- He ascended into heaven,
- and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
- He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
- Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
- Do you believe in (?):
- the communion of saints,
- the forgiveness of sins,
- the resurrection of the body,
- and the life everlasting.
- Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and
- fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the
- prayers?
- Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
- you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
- Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
- News of God in Christ?
- Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
- your neighbor as yourself? If you’ve answered “yes” to the following, we invite you to come to C3 Church so that you can come into communion and community with us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Please connect with us and schedule a meeting with one of our leaders so that we can prepare you to be Baptized.