Baptism Overview from Blue Ridge Community Church on Vimeo.

Baptism - Why Do It?

The simple answer is that Jesus instructed His followers to be baptized – not simply as a religious practice, but as the initiatory act in our intimate and ongoing relationship with Him. Its closest human parallel is probably marriage. Baptism would correspond to the formal wedding ceremony. As we all know, the ceremony doesn’t constitute the reality of the marriage, but it does formalize it and is a statement of our commitment. It is when we take on the name of the one we’re marrying and become publicly and legally identified with our spouse.

In fact, in our culture, a person is not recognized as being married if there is no such formality. So it is with baptism. It’s the outward expression that depicts the inward reality. It’s important!

Again, the ceremony itself doesn’t constitute the marriage, but it is our formal and public declaration of commitment to our spouse. Likewise, being baptized does not get a person into heaven, but it is a public declaration of the personal relationship with Christ, which does.

It’s just common sense that, before marrying, the parties should be old enough and responsible enough to know what they’re doing. It’s the same with baptism. A person must have enough maturity to understand what he/she is doing and make a meaningful commitment to the relationship.

When it expresses love and commitment, baptism (like marriage) is the ceremony that marks the beginning of the most intimate and fulfilling relationship a human being can have.

Our next Blue Ridge baptism will be on Sunday, March 18, 2012, during all morning services.  If you are ready to make this public declaration, please sign up below so someone can contact you with more details, and download this packet or pick one up at the Welcome Center and bring it with you to the required meeting on Sunday, March 11, at 6 pm. We are excited about helping you take this next step in your journey toward becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ.