"I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I hope to be. But I am not what I once used to be and by the grace of God I am what I am." - John Newton
As some of you may know, we were baptized yesterday as a part of our church's Wednesday night connection gathering at a local park. It was a beautiful summer evening that we will never forget. We understand that some of you might have questions and thus have attempted to answer and clarify some of them below. Along with a few pictures, we have also included our brief testimonies that we wrote and shared prior to being baptized last night. We hope that they will serve as an encouragement and that you would be reminded of our Savior's sacrifice, great love, and the hope and joy that we as believers have in Him. We also hope and pray that for those of you who have not trusted in the Lord as your personal Savior would do so by the grace of God.
How is one saved or born again?
Through the cross, by trusting that Jesus paid it all for your sins - past, present, and future (Isaiah 1:18). For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). His blood covers us so that the Father sees us as righteous through Christ's sacrifice. We are saved by His grace THROUGH faith in Jesus Christ and not in any other way (Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 2:8-15, Galatians 3:26-27, John 1:12-13).
What is baptism, and who should be baptized?
Baptism is merely a visible, outward symbol of God's saving work that has already occurred in a person's life (1 Peter 3:21). When baptism is mentioned in the Bible, belief or a profession of faith always precedes baptism (Acts 2:38-41, Acts 16:15, Acts 16:32,34, Acts 18:8), and believers are commanded by the Lord to be baptized (Matthew 28:19-20). Therefore, according to hopeingod.org, "You should be baptized if these two conditions describe you: 1. You have repented of your sins and believe on Christ alone for salvation. 2. You have not already been baptized as a believer by immersion."
What about infant baptism?
No where in the New Testament is infant baptism mentioned. There are passages about households being baptized, but belief through your faith (not your parents' faith) precedes baptism (Colossians 2:12). Many proponents use Romans 4:11 to support their position of infant baptism because there seems to be a connection between circumcision in the OT and baptism in the NT. However, circumcision and baptism don't play the same role because the new covenant people and old covenant people are gathered in different ways (Romans 9:6-8, Galatians 4:22-28). Today, "the church is gathered through faith alone, by grace alone and not a continuation of Israel as a whole, but of the true Israel, not the children of the flesh, but the children of the the promise; The church is not a replay of Israel; It is an advance on Israel." -John Piper
Does baptism or other works save and justify a person?
Baptism does not save a person. Nothing we do of our own accord can ever save us. By the grace of God, one must trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
- Galatians 2:16 Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
- Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."
- Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 By the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.
- Titus 3:4-5 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the Bible, the Greek word baptizo means to dip, plunge, or immerse. Therefore, baptism is by immersion and not sprinkling or pouring. By going under and coming up from water, it represents the burial and rising from the dead (Romans 6:3-4). Most scholars believe this was the way baptism was practiced in the early church.
Why were we wearing red robes?
As a symbol, to represent Christ's blood covering us. When we came up and out of the water, a white towel was placed around us to represent the righteousness that was and is ours when we, by the grace of God, trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.
What questions were we asked prior to being baptized?
We so appreciate our church and the care that they put into baptism, for it is not something to enter into lightly. Everyone who desires to be baptized must attend a baptism class and be interviewed by an elder(s). You are required to share your testimony publicly and asked three questions before being baptized:
I normally tell people my testimony is not too exciting or thrilling, but in all honesty every soul saved by Christ is celebrated in heaven with much joy. It’s something that any individual could not do on their own and so therefore is an amazing gift. Anything less that I make of it would be not only inaccurate but also selfish.
I grew up in small town in Wisconsin. I was blessed to be raised in a Christian family who loved the Lord. I have many early memories of potlucks at church, baptisms out on the pond and Awana, where we practiced verse memorization and went through many Bible stories. At the age of 6, I remember my sister talking through the depths of hell and the freedom we have from this in Jesus. Even at a young age I felt God overwhelm me with a desire to enter His kingdom and free myself from the bondage of sin. My sinful nature was exposed to my eye, and the Holy Spirit entered.
During my high school years and college years I did feel secure in the Lord, but there was one part of my spiritual life I hadn’t come to fully grasp. Two summers ago, a few friends, my wife, and I went through a series put together by John Piper. It was called TULIP. During this time my eyes were opened to how much grace was involved in me being saved and how dependent I really am in Christ, yet how free that makes me from sin. The fact that I am standing here today, or any of us, is purely by the grace of God who created me and saved me. Today I look to be baptized as a statement of my faith in God and asking God for future grace throughout my time on earth. That His will, will be done in my life.
Amanda's Testimony
I was raised Catholic and therefore taught from a young age to rely on works and faith as a means for salvation. During high school, the Lord called me to Himself. He used my disobedience to raise doubts about the way I had always been raised. By the grace of God, a friend invited me to youth group. And through that youth group, but ultimately because of Christ, the veil from my eyes was lifted, and I embraced the true Gospel. My sins were forgiven, not because I did this or that, but because He paid it all on the cross. I was a new creation born again to a living hope through his resurrection.
I desire to be baptized because I have been planted by Him, through Him, and for Him. My roots have grown and matured in the last ten years, and I want to publicly rejoice in His mercy and grace towards me, in the hope that others may know Him. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And as Philippians 1:6 says, "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion in the last day."
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Soli deo gloria - Glory to God alone.
As a symbol, to represent Christ's blood covering us. When we came up and out of the water, a white towel was placed around us to represent the righteousness that was and is ours when we, by the grace of God, trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.
What questions were we asked prior to being baptized?
We so appreciate our church and the care that they put into baptism, for it is not something to enter into lightly. Everyone who desires to be baptized must attend a baptism class and be interviewed by an elder(s). You are required to share your testimony publicly and asked three questions before being baptized:
- Are you now trusting in Jesus Chris alone for the forgiveness of your sins and the fulfillment of all God's promises to you, even eternal life?
- Do you forsake Satan and all his works and all his ways?
- Do you intend with God's help to obey Jesus' teaching and follow him as your Lord?
I normally tell people my testimony is not too exciting or thrilling, but in all honesty every soul saved by Christ is celebrated in heaven with much joy. It’s something that any individual could not do on their own and so therefore is an amazing gift. Anything less that I make of it would be not only inaccurate but also selfish.
I grew up in small town in Wisconsin. I was blessed to be raised in a Christian family who loved the Lord. I have many early memories of potlucks at church, baptisms out on the pond and Awana, where we practiced verse memorization and went through many Bible stories. At the age of 6, I remember my sister talking through the depths of hell and the freedom we have from this in Jesus. Even at a young age I felt God overwhelm me with a desire to enter His kingdom and free myself from the bondage of sin. My sinful nature was exposed to my eye, and the Holy Spirit entered.
During my high school years and college years I did feel secure in the Lord, but there was one part of my spiritual life I hadn’t come to fully grasp. Two summers ago, a few friends, my wife, and I went through a series put together by John Piper. It was called TULIP. During this time my eyes were opened to how much grace was involved in me being saved and how dependent I really am in Christ, yet how free that makes me from sin. The fact that I am standing here today, or any of us, is purely by the grace of God who created me and saved me. Today I look to be baptized as a statement of my faith in God and asking God for future grace throughout my time on earth. That His will, will be done in my life.
Amanda's Testimony
I was raised Catholic and therefore taught from a young age to rely on works and faith as a means for salvation. During high school, the Lord called me to Himself. He used my disobedience to raise doubts about the way I had always been raised. By the grace of God, a friend invited me to youth group. And through that youth group, but ultimately because of Christ, the veil from my eyes was lifted, and I embraced the true Gospel. My sins were forgiven, not because I did this or that, but because He paid it all on the cross. I was a new creation born again to a living hope through his resurrection.
I desire to be baptized because I have been planted by Him, through Him, and for Him. My roots have grown and matured in the last ten years, and I want to publicly rejoice in His mercy and grace towards me, in the hope that others may know Him. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And as Philippians 1:6 says, "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion in the last day."
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Rejoicing with you on this important step in your spiritual life. Judy
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