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Upcoming Baptism
posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008
DATE: Saturday September 13, 2008
******NEW TIME: 9:00 AM******
LOCATION: Spessard Holland North Park, Hwy A1A
Few things around CCM and CCMV are as heavenly as water baptisms! Hearing believers, young and old, share their stories of how God has changed their lives is so encouraging. Watching them line up to take that step of faith does something inside you that words can't describe. You can't help but leave with a renewed awareness of the goodness and faithfulness of God!
For those who would like to be baptized, there will be an instructional class available on both campuses on Sunday, September 7th at 12:45 pm. The CCM group will meet in the Chapel and the CCMV group will meet in the conference room at the school. Please sign up at the Information Center at CCM or at the Resource table at CCMV and pick up a map there. Whether or not you're being baptized you'll be blessed, so bring your family and join us for this heart-warming event as part of God's family!
What is Water Baptism?
Water baptism by immersion is a scriptural practice of the early church that we uphold today. Baptism was commanded by Christ (Matt 28:19); and Jesus was also our example (Luke 3:21,22). It is important that as Christians we understand what baptism is, what it represents, and what it does and does not do for us.
Baptism is a joyous occasion for the believer. It is an opportunity to declare to the world that we have been redeemed and set free by the blood of the Lamb - our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are a new creation in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17) - reckoned dead to sin, "but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:11). Baptism is an act of obedience (Acts 2:38), and is meant for believers (Acts 2:41, 8:36-38, 10:44-48, 18:8).
Baptism comes after an expressed belief in Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:37). Therefore, we are baptized in response to what Christ has done for us. It is an external witness to those around us that there has been an internal, spiritual work done by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The death of our old (sinful) nature and the birth of our new nature in Christ are symbolized by our immersion under water and our being raised up (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). Behind this external baptism lies the true baptism - that of the shed blood of Jesus Christ; as well as the inward operation of the Holy Spirit, moving us to live, move, and act in faith.
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