Baptism

Baptism is a very special service that Jesus Christ gave to His Church. Baptism takes place in the church at one of our services and involves being immersed in or sprinkled by water.

Water is used throughout the Bible as a symbol of cleansing, new life and the Holy Spirit. So baptism is meant to be a picture of these things.

Its a sign of being made clean - not a physical cleansing like when we have a bath, but being made clean before God. Every one of us is born with a heart that automatically rebels against God. We prefer to do things that please ourselves rather then God. This is sin. And the sin that is within us shows itself through the wrong things we do. So being washed in baptism is a picture of what God can do for us. He can make us clean, washing away our sin. The Bible says:

But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:4,5

Baptism also speaks of new life or new birth. Often we try to do the right things and resolve to do better, like new year's resolutions, but fail. Have you ever wondered why? It's this bias again. We have a heart that is biased towards an easy life and not one that serves God. If you have ever tried to keep the 10 commandments you quickly realise that it's impossible. God knows that. He didn't give us His law to make us feel inadequate. Listen again to what the Bible says:

...the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24

What we really need is something more radical than a law to keep. We need to be given something or changed. We cannot do this ourselves so God promises to do it for us. He promises to those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ new life.

Baptism is a sign of this. By immersing an adult or baby in water the picture is one of dying and rising again from the dead. Just as Christ died and rose again so we identify ourselves with him. The power at work in bringing Christ back from the dead is at work in Christians.

Finally baptism points us to the person behind this work. The Holy Spirit is vital if we are to experience anything of God's grace and power. When John the Baptist told the crowds about Jesus he observed that he would baptise with the Holy Spirit, whilst John could only baptise with water. One points to the other, but they cannot be confused. The minister can only baptise with water, but God can and does baptise with the Holy Spirit.

From all this we learn that baptism is a Christian rite, not simply a naming ceremony. We therefore offer baptism for those who confess the Christian faith and a thanksgiving service for those who prefer it.

If you wish to learn more about baptism and thanksgivings then please contact the Revd. Alan Hogarth on 01491 671714.