WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Baptism and communion are the two ordinances required in the church. We teach that Christian baptism by immersion in water is a public identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Although baptism is not required for salvation, it is commanded of all believers, declares one’s allegiance to Jesus as Lord and Savior, and is for believers only in order to declare that we are saved by God’s grace through Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-41; Acts 18:8; Romans 6:1-4; Ephesians 2:8-9) Scripture shows that a person was baptized after receiving forgiveness of sin through trusting in God’s grace through Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41, 8:36-38, 10:47; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) Baptism by immersion is a symbol of our death, burial, and resurrection to newness of life that happens when we become new creations in Christ. (Colossians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:1-4)

Communion is the remembrance by believers of Christ’s death for us, and a reminder—through the bread and the juice—of the Savior’s broken body and shed blood for us. We are reminding ourselves that Jesus satisfies as the Bread of Life when everything else leaves us unfulfilled and empty. (John 6:48-51; Jeremiah 2:13) Communion is to be a time of self-examination and also a time of celebration of who we are in Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:20-32; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:5; Romans 6:6; 1 Peter 2:9, 3:18) We encourage believers to take communion in their homes and small groups as a way of life as God leads.

(Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 2:41-42)