BELOW YOU WILL FIND INFO ABOUT WHY YOU SHOULD GET BAPTIZED AND WHAT BAPTISM MEANS.  ALSO, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE ARE DETAILS ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING BAPTIZED.  AS ALWAYS, REACH OUT TO US WITH QUESTIONS!

WHY BAPTISM?

I. JESUS PARTICIPATED IN BAPTISM

IN MATTHEW 3:1-10 JESUS WAS BAPTIZED.  JESUS WAS GOD, AND HE HUMBLED HIMSELF TO RECEIVE WHAT GOD HAD FOR HIM THROUGH BAPTISM.  BAPTISM WAS AN EXTERNAL ACT THAT SIGNIFIED AN INTERNAL CHANGE FOR JESUS.  THE SAME IS TRUE FOR US WHEN WE CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH BAPTISM. 

II. SCRIPTURES ENCOURAGE BAPTISM

THE BOOK OF ACTS IS THE STORY OF HOW THE CHURCH WAS STARTED.  WHEN PEOPLE RESPONDED TO JESUS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, THEY WERE BAPTIZED.  THIS OCCURRED IN THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS: ACTS 2:38, ACTS 8:26-40 AND ACTS 16:16-40.  AN EASY BOOK OF ACTS BAPTISM FORMULA TO REMEMBER IS ACTS 2 X ACTS 8 = ACTS 16. 

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

I.  BAPTISM INCLUDES MORAL REPENTANCE

GOD'S MORAL STANDARD IS DIFFERENT THAN OUR MORAL STANDARD.  GOD WANTS US TO RECOGNIZE THIS FACT AND TAKE A DRASTIC STEP (BAPTISM) TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND REPENT FROM THEM. BY PARTICIPATING IN THE ACT OF BAPTISM, WE RENOUNCE THOSE WAYS AND PREPARE OUR HEARTS FOR ALL THAT GOD HAS FOR US.  SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER ON THIS TOPIC INCLUDE MATTHEW 3:1-10. 

II.  BAPTISM INCLUDES JESUS CHRIST

JOHN UNDERSTOOD THAT JESUS WOULD BAPTIZE PEOPLE WITH FORCE (HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE).  JESUS WAS BAPTIZED TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THEN HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCEND TO LEAD HIM.  THE DECLARATION OF BELONGING FROM GOD THE FATHER OCCURRED WHEN JESUS WAS BAPTIZED.  SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER ON THIS TOPIC INCLUDE MATTHEW 3:11-17 AND I CORINTHIANS 12:13. 

III. BAPTISM INCLUDES BELONGING

BEING BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS IS TO TAKE ON NEW IDENTITY, AND THEREFORE IMPLIES A SENSE OF BELONGING TO GOD.  TO BE BAPTIZED IS GIVE UP ON THE IDEA THAT OUR WAYS, OR OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN.  WE NEED MORE THAN OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL EFFORT TO BE SAVED. THEREFORE, WE MUST CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD AND REPENT TO BE SAVED, AND WE BELONG TO HIM ONCE THIS HAPPENS.  AND WE MUST REMAIN AWARE THAT BAPTISM PREPARES US FOR MORE OF WHAT GOD HAS FOR US.  SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER ON THIS TOPIC INCLUDE MATTHEW 28:16-20. ACTS 2:38 AND ACTS 22:16. 

IV. BAPTISM INCLUDES THE HOLY SPIRIT

BEING BAPTIZED INCLUDES A MOMENT OF FURTHER EXPECTATION.  BELIEVERS SHOULD EXPECT TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.  THUS, DURING AND AFTER BAPTISM, WE SHOULD SEEK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ENGAGE US DYNAMICALLY AS WE SEE IN THE SCRIPTURES.  SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER ON THIS TOPIC INCLUDES ACTS 19:1-6, MATTHEW 3:11, ACTS 2:38 AND I CORINTHIANS 12:13. 

WANT TO GET BAPTIZED?

I. FIRST STEP - DECIDE TO GET BAPTIZED

IF GOD HAS PUT IT ON YOUR HEART TO GET BAPTIZED, DECIDE NOW TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR NEXT BAPTISM EVENT TO OCCUR IN APRIL 2023.  TO SIGN UP TO GET BAPTIZED, CLICK AND COMPLETE THE BAPTISM FORM BELOW. 

II. SECOND STEP - PARTICIPATE IN BAPTISM CLASS

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET BAPTIZED, YOUR NEXT STEP IS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR NEXT BAPTISM CLASS, TO OCCUR SUNDAY PRIOR TO BAPTISM SUNDAY.  

III. THIRD STEP - GET BAPTIZED

ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, YOU WILL THEN BE BAPTIZED FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS AND GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!  CONGRATULATIONS ON JOINING THE STORY THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU!

QUESTIONS: PLEASE CONTACT PASTOR OTTO RAMOS, PASTOROTTO@VLCHURCH.COM.

Click here to complete a Baptism Information Request