Learn more about Baptism

Reflections on Baptism

Meaning of Baptism

Being a Christian is not a one-time event. Although many of us can recall the moment when we made the decision to follow Christ and surrendered our lives to Him, the journey of a Christian is an ongoing process of growth and transformation towards becoming more like Him. It requires a daily commitment to follow His teachings, obey His commands, and strive to live a life that honors Him. This process of becoming more like Christ involves a continuous pursuit of spiritual maturity and a deeper relationship with God. We were created by God in His own image to have a love relationship with Him. Unfortunately sin entered the world through humankind’s disobedience and sin remains a barrier in each one of our lives.
“The trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God” says Isaiah 59:2. The good news (gospel) is that God Himself, in the form of His Son Jesus Christ, came to earth to die for each one of us whom He loves, to pay the price for our sins on the cross. Romans 6:23 says the wages or result of sin is death but the free gift of God is everlasting life in Jesus our Lord. We can never earn our salvation; it is given to us by God’s mercy and grace.

The Bible calls on us to:
1. ADMIT we have sin in our lives, to repent and turn away from it and to ask Christ to forgive our sins. (Acts 3:19; Romans 3:23)
2. BELIEVE the Jesus died for our sins on the cross, rose from the dead and is alive today. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8)
3. CONFESS with our mouth that Jesus is the Lord of our life, that means surrendering our life to His control (Romans 10:9)

What is Baptism? (Pledge of Love and Obedience)
Just as Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the Jordan River, we want to be obedient to God’s Word. The Great Commission of Christ is set out in Matthew 28:19-20 where Jesus says:

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”

It is evident that Jesus provided us with an example to follow by getting baptized as believers in Him. When we choose to get baptized, we are making a deliberate decision to love God and our neighbors. By obeying Christ's command, we are showing that we are His disciple and follower. Additionally, baptism serves as a public declaration of our surrender to God and our dedication to living our lives for Him. This act of faith demonstrates to the world around us that we are committed to serving God and living as His faithful followers.

Who can be baptized?

Baptism is for anyone who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is for those who believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins; that He has forgiven their sins and that Jesus alone can save them from their sins. John 3:16 states:
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (NLT)

If you have asked forgiveness for your sins, believe that Jesus died for your sins and you have accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour, you are ready to be baptized.

When Should You Be Baptized?

There is no reason to delay being baptized. As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life and to follow Him, you can and should be baptized. An account from the early church in Acts 2:41 says

“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church.”

The Bible instructs us to get baptized as believers, and we follow the example of Christ and the early church by being immersed in water. Baptism is an act of obedience to God, symbolizing our death to sin and our resurrection to new life in Christ. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful testimony to the world of our commitment to God. By taking this step of faith, we publicly declare our devotion to Him and our desire to live a life that honors Him.

(Based on How2belong, First Alliance Church Calgary, https://www.faccalgary.com/documents/Membership%20Package.pdf)

What we believe (Based on the Apostles’ Creed)

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Body of Jesus which is called the church and the community of believers and disciples of Jesus, the communion of God’s people, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting in and with Jesus Christ. Amen.

Take some time to reflect on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior by reading either the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John before your baptismal interview. During the interview, you will be asked questions related to these books, so it's important to be familiar with their contents. If you need more information or have any questions, please reach out to our pastor.
Frankie Kim (306-594-4231, [email protected])