By Daniel Overdorf
An extended discussion that presents a solid biblical argument with a positive tone:
“¢ Hazelwood Christian Church, Clayton, Indiana; See downloadable three-page document about the church”s view of baptism at www.hazelwoodchristian.org/hcc/about_us.
An exemplary medium-length discussion:
“¢ Westerfield (Ohio) Christian Church; www.westerville-christian.org/about-us/what-we-believe.aspx
In the New Testament church, once people believed in Jesus were willing to turn from sin (repentance) and publicly confess Christ as Lord, they were then baptized for the forgiveness of their sins and the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 41; 22:16).
In the original Greek language, baptize meant to dip, plunge, or immerse. In keeping with the biblical pattern, Westerville Christian practices baptism by immersion as part of one”s acceptance of Christ for salvation. Baptism is a beautiful picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and a way we identify with Christ by dying to our old selves and being raised to a new life (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27).
Due to the biblical prerequisites of belief, repentance, and confession, Westerville Christian does not practice infant baptism.
If you haven”t already experienced the joy of baptism, we invite you to take the step to accept Christ into your life and be baptized!
Exemplary brief discussions that occur in the midst of more extended statements of belief:
“¢ Bailey (Michigan) Christian Church, www.baileychristianchurch.com/what-we-believe
Our response to what God has done comes through hearing the gospel (Romans 10:17), believing in Jesus (John 3:16), repenting (changing the way we think and act toward God and sin; Acts 2:38), confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9, 10), being baptized for forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), and living by faith in the grace of God (Revelation 2:10).
“¢ First Christian Church, Moncks Corner, South Carolina, www.fccmc.org/what_we_believe.php
Those accepting Christ should repent of sin, confess their faith, and be baptized into him (Romans 10:9 and Acts 2:38).
“¢ Valley View Christian Church, Dallas, Texas, www.vvcc.org/#/im-new-here/what-we-believe
The Bible teaches that the conversion process is as follows: hearing the message, putting faith in Christ, repenting of sin, confessing Christ, and being baptized by immersion into Christ.
“¢ Catlin (Illinois) Church of Christ, www.catlinchurch.com/content.cfm?id=295
We practice believer”s baptism by immersion for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 39). Baptism is both our tomb (Romans 6:3) and our womb (John 3:3, 5). It”s where condemned sinners go to die, and where Spirit-empowered saints rise up to walk in a new life. Scripture insists that baptism is the theater of God”s gracious activity, not something we do to earn God”s approval (Colossians 2:11-13; Titus 3:4-7).
“¢ Oakwood Park Christian Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, www.oakwoodparkcc.org/what_we_believe
Those accepting Christ should repent of sin, confess their faith, and be baptized into Him (Romans 10:9 and Acts 2:38).
It is comforting to know that all we control in our salvation experience is submission to God’s plain commands of believing AND repenting AND confessing THEN being baptized, washed in his blood. Then, having completed his specific requests of sin-cleaning, or of having assembled all the ingredients for our favorite pie and cooked it as per instructions, we can enjoy it’s delicious taste the rest of our lives by demonstrating our L.M.O. Love Motivated Obedience !
In Jesus our Designer, Creator, Savior, Lord
William Rance Ranney
It’s wonderfully uplifting to see that there are still churches that hold to the Biblical model of baptism. This is becoming an issue in many churches.
At
http://www.curtisvillechristianchurch.org/Promise.html
baptism’s form and purpose are discussed in the context of how a person can receive the promise of everlasting life from God.
Yours in Christ,
James Snapp, Jr.