What is Baptism?

Speaker: Craig Carter | Series: What is Baptism? | Click here to read this sermon on our blog page!
Who?

“Persons of any age are suitable candidates for baptism because Christ’s body, the Church, is a great family that includes persons of all ages.” (United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 82; see also Acts 16:15, 33; 18:8)

 

How?

“United Methodists may baptize by any of the modes used by Christians. Candidates or their parents have the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion…” (United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 81; see also Hebrews 10:22)

 

What?

“We believe Baptism signifies entrance into the household of faith, and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship.” (The Book of Discipline, p. 68)

 

1) Regeneration (John 3:5; Acts 2:38)

Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives…So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:3-4, 11 NLT)

 

2) Reception

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day – about 3,000 in all. (Acts 2:41 NLT)

But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13b NLT)

 

3) Remembrance

“Baptism is an act that looks back with gratitude on what God’s grace has already accomplished, it is here and now an act of God’s grace, and it looks forward to what God’s grace will accomplish in the future.” (United Methodist Book of Worship, p. 81)