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Baptism

Raised to new life!

Here at ALC, we believe baptism is an important step in your faith journey, and it would be an honor to celebrate this special moment with you! Read below to find more information about baptism.

What is baptism?

Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. It is a visual and symbolic demonstration of a person’s union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection. Baptism signifies that a person’s former way of life has been put to death and depicts a release from their slavery to sin.

Why is baptism important?

Baptism is not merely a responsibility and demonstration, but it is also a privilege. We have the opportunity to evidence our trust in and love for our King through baptism. It is our joy to be baptized, and we should eagerly participate in the ordinance. The desire to be baptized should be motivated by our hope to glorify God in faithful obedience. Any other motivation (to join a particular local church, to please a friend or family member, etc.) should not be the ultimate reason for seeking to be baptized.

Why should someone be baptized?

To obey the commands of Christ.
Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:18-20
To evidence that a person is a disciple of Christ.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
– Galatians 3:26-27
To follow the example of Christ.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 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 alighting 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

Is baptism necessary for salvation?

Though grace is mysteriously mediated through the ordinance, it is not saving grace but rather sanctifying grace. We are more conformed to the image of Christ as we obey Him in the call to be baptized. Without in any way diminishing the duty and delight of baptism for a believer, we caution against thinking that suggests salvation is dependent upon baptism. The Gospel is the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone.
 
While we do not baptize infants at ALC, we do have a Child Dedication process for parents who want to publicly dedicate their children to the Lord. Child Dedication information can be found here.

Baptism for children...

Child Baptism is available to those children who are old enough to both understand and verbally confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If you have a child in an elementary grade who is expressing interest in baptism, the next step is to sign up for the Kids Baptism Class. Kids will meet in person with a Kids' team leader to learn about what baptism is, why we do it, and when to do it. Parents, since you play such an important role in your child’s spiritual development, we ask that you attend the class with your child. 

Baptism for youth...

We believe baptism is an exciting step in a student’s faith journey, and we want to prepare and celebrate with you! We offer a baptism class called Taking the Plunge, which is a fun and informative way for students to get an in-depth look at what baptism is, why we do it, and when to do it. All middle school and high school students who are expressing an interest or desire to be baptized are welcome to sign up, and a student pastor will be in touch to set up a time to meet!

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