The Covenant Of Baptism

BAPTISM IS KNOWN TO US AS “THE OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD GRACE.” BAPTISM IS A SACRAMENT OF THE CHURCH AND IS A COMMAND GIVEN TO US BY JESUS CHRIST.

BAPTISM, ACCORDING TO THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH IS A “MEANS OF GRACE THROUGH FAITH, [A] TOKEN OF OUR PROFESSION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH, AND SIGNS OF GOD’S GRACIOUS MINISTRY TOWARD US. BY [BAPTISM], [GOD] WORKS WITHIN US TO QUICKEN, STRENGTHEN AND CONFIRM OUR FAITH.”

IT IS THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM THAT WE ARE GIVEN OUR IDENTITY AS PEOPLE FOR WHOM JESUS CHRIST LIVED, DIED AND WAS RESURRECTED. IT IS THROUGH BAPTISM THAT WE ACCEPT THE BENEFITS OF THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST AND DECLARE OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR.

IN BAPTISM WE ARE INITIATED INTO MEMBERSHIP WITHIN THE UNIVERSAL, CHRISTIAN CHURCH; WE ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE COMMUNITY OF GOD'S PEOPLE, THE BODY OF CHRIST.

BY BAPTISM WE ARE COMMISSIONED INTO MINISTRY. BY BAPTISM WE ARE CALLED TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF CHRIST FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD.

GOD HAS CHOSEN TO USE THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM AS ONE OF THE WAYS TO SHOW US HIS DIVINE LOVE. THE GRACE OFFERED TO US IN BAPTISM IS GRACE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST.

WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED, WE BECOME WITNESSES TO THE TRUTH THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED NEW LIFE IN CHRIST, HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED AND THAT, THROUGH REPENTANCE, OUR OLD LIFE IS PAST AND OUR NEW LIFE HAS BEGUN.

BAPTISM ANNOUNCES THAT WE HAVE CONFESSED OUR SINS, FOUND FORGIVENESS AND THAT WE ARE CLEANSED BY THE SAVING POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

THIS BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE RELATES TO THE VERY HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH WHICH IS THE REALIZATION THAT WE ARE BROKEN AND SINFUL PEOPLE IN NEED OF GOD'S MERCY, GRACE, FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION.

BECAUSE OF SIN'S DESTRUCTIVE POWER, GOD SAYS THAT SIN IS STILL A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH FOR THE RESTORATION OF OUR LIVES. UNLESS WE ACCEPT THIS REALITY OF SIN, THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL WILL NOT MAKE MUCH SENSE, NOT ONLY TO US, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO REMAIN IN SIN’S DARKNESS.

WE MUST DEAL WITH SIN…PERIOD! SIN IS NOT SO MUCH SOMETHING WE "COMMIT" AS IT IS A CONDITION WE ARE IN. WE ARE IN A STATE OF SIN; WE ARE SINFUL CREATURES WHO LIVE IN A WORLD THAT WE HAVE MADE SINFUL. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. THIS "CONDITION" HAS A CURE! IT HAS A WAY OUT!

THIS IS WHAT MAKES BAPTISM SO BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE IT SPEAKS SO VIVIDLY OF GOD'S REMEDY FOR SIN. BAPTISM IS AN "OUTWARD SIGN" THAT THE ONE BEING BAPTIZED HAS DEALT WITH THEIR SINS THROUGH CONFESSION, REPENTANCE, AND BY ASKING JESUS CHRIST TO FORGIVE THEM AND THEIR SINS.

THE WATER USED IN BAPTISM IS A SYMBOL TO SHOW US THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS, THROUGH THE WATER, "WASHED" OUR SINS AWAY TO MAKE US CLEAN. THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE GOSPEL…FORGIVENESS, REDEMPTION, AND RECONCILIATION!

GOD IS NOT WILLING TO LEAVE US STUCK IN SIN. GOD IS ALWAYS ACTING TO SAVE US. THE ENTIRE STORY OF THE BIBLE IS THE STORY OF GOD'S EFFORTS TO BRING US BACK INTO THE LOVING, PERSONAL AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE RESTORATION OF THIS RELATIONSHIP IS BETTER KNOWN AS "SALVATION." THAT IS, CONFESSING OUR SINS, ASKING GOD TO FORGIVE US AND OUR SINS, AND THEN ASKING JESUS CHRIST TO COME INTO OUR LIFE TO BE OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CHOOSE TO DO THIS WILL JOYFULLY EMBARK ON LIVING A SANCTIFIED LIFE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST THROUGH SURRENDER, RADICAL OBEDIENCE AND REPENTANCE.

IF WE WILL “GO ON TOWARDS PERFECTION” AND LIVE A SANCTIFIED LIFE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE WILL FIND IT REALLY IS POSSIBLE TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST, TO DIE TO SELF, TO REDIRECT OUR HEARTS TO GOD, AND TO PLEASE AND SERVE GOD EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THIS IS WHAT IS SYMBOLIZED IN THE COVENANT OF BAPTISM! BAPTISM CELEBRATES BECOMING A NEW PERSON IN JESUS CHRIST! THIS IS WHY THE CEREMONY OF BAPTISM EMPHASIZES PUTTING OFF THE OLD, RENOUNCING SIN, THE EVIL POWERS OF THE WORLD, AND PLEDGING LOYALTY TO JESUS CHRIST ALONE.

THE ONLY MEANING SURROUNDING BAPTISM IS TO PROCLAIM THAT SALVATION IS MADE POSSIBLE FOR US THROUGH THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. THE ONE BEING BAPTIZED IS ENTERING INTO ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS. THEY ARE RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER TO BE ABLE TO SAY “JESUS IS LORD!” BAPTISM BECOMES AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF THEIR FAITH AND COMMITMENT TO JESUS AS LORD.

CELEBRATING BAPTISM FOR ANY OTHER REASON CHEAPENS, IF NOT BLASPHEMES, THE WHOLE POINT OF GOD LOVING US SO MUCH THAT HE WOULD COME FROM HEAVEN BY SENDING HIS SON TO TAKE ON AND EXPERIENCE OUR HUMANITY IN ORDER TO SUFFER AND DIE FOR OUR SINS.