Jesus tells us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19). Baptism has always been a priority for followers of Jesus, and we love celebrating new life through baptism! Our baptism services are always some of our most joyful occasions as a church family!
We recognize there is a lot of different teaching about baptism, and so we seek to clarify why and how we baptize at Forcey.
Baptism is a means through which we publicly profess faith in Jesus Christ – a means through which we demonstrate to God, to others, and to ourselves that we really are followers of Christ who IDENTIFY with him in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is one of the first doors we walk through as we begin our journey of faith – it is the symbolic WASHING AWAY of one’s old, sinful past and the RISING again to NEW LIFE – with the INTENT to live that new life as a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
Baptism illustrates Jesus’ DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION. (“Christ died for our sins … He was buried … and He rose again.” 1 Cor. 15: 3-4)
Baptism illustrates NEW LIFE as a Christian: trusting and obeying Jesus (“By our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared in His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… so also, we may live a NEW LIFE.” Rom. 6:4)
Baptism is the first step in following Jesus. For 2,000 years all around the world, followers of Jesus have publicly professed their faith through water baptism. Today, in our region, it’s our turn to identify with Jesus through baptism and to walk in new life!