Down with the old, Up with the new!

"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John...as soon as Jesus was baptized he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." -Matthew 3:13-17

Baptism is a way to publicly declare that you are following the example of Jesus. If you have crossed the line of Faith and made the decision to be a Christ-follower, then you are invited to step into Baptism. There probably won't be doves or voices from heaven, but your friends will all cheer and you will know that you have taken a great step forward in your faith.

Though the actual process is really quite simple, the spiritual symbolism is deep, rich, and full of meaning. Baptism demonstrates that the 'old you' is dead, gone, buried, toast, etc. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -2 Corinthians 5:17 Going under the water tells the world that you are now 'washed' in Christ. He has forgiven everything and made you a new person. It's grace. It's a fresh start! When you arise out of the water you are celebrating the power of the Risen Christ who rose victoriously over sin and death so that you could experience eternal life with him! Other words such as 'regeneration' and 'justification' are also symbolized in baptism.

What do I have to do to be baptized? The first step is to know that you are a Christian. If you are clear on that, you are probably ready to be baptized.
Do I need to say something in front of everyone? It's always a bonus when people hear you verbalize what God has done for you. However, we understand that not everyone is comfortable with talking in front of a crowd. At a minimum we will share a bit of your story and ask you a couple of questions of confirmation.
What's my next step? Call the church @ 452-7110 and let us know you are ready. Or email us @ mail@olivetwesleyan.ca

We're hoping to have some people ready for baptism for April 27 in either the 9:00 or 10:45 services!