Would you like to be baptized?
The Bible presents every person who comes to Christ as one who was baptized in response to his or her faith in Jesus. This important step should not be taken lightly, but every person with faith in Christ is called in Scripture to be united with Christ in baptism. Any one of our Staff, our Elders, our ministry leaders, our teachers or our Life Group leasers would count it a privilege to discuss baptism with you. This could happen over coffee or in an appointment at the church building. We don’t have designated days for baptisms. They could happen any time, including during one of our Sunday worship services.
The Good News of Jesus
Christianity is about a truth which is both very profound and very simple: we have a NEED; God has an ANSWER to our need. This is very good news, but it also calls for a RESPONSE from those who hear this good news!
The Need:
- God created the world and human beings, and He loves them and has a plan for them to live with Him forever.
- Human beings since the beginning of the world have been unloving and disobedient to God. The Bible calls our unloving behaviour toward God, “sin.”
- Sin has become a huge barrier between ourselves and the perfect God who loves us.
- God wants more than anything else to be in wonderful relationship with us, but sin prevents this.
- God is just, and cannot ignore our sin, for sin requires justice; payment of a debt.
- We, as weak human beings, are not able to fix this problem, to pay the debt.
- We are in a tough spot; which leads us to ask, “What will fix the problem?” “How will justice take place?” “How can we be in relationship with God?”
The Answer:
- God loves us so much that he gave His Son to receive the punishment for our sin, thereby bringing to us forgiveness.
- Jesus died on the cross for you and your sin so that your sins could be forgiven and so that you can have relationship with God. This allows you to participate with all of us who are Christians in carrying out the work God is doing in the world.
- After his death, Jesus was raised back to life by God so that death itself could be overcome.
- This means for us that through Christ death has no power over us, and we have opportunity to be in relationship with God forever, someday living eternally in the world he is preparing for us.
Biblical References Concerning the Simple Gospel (click here for PDF)
- Isaiah 53:4-6
- Matthew 1:21
- Mark 1:14-15, 10:45
- Luke 1:76-79, 4:16-19, 5:31-32, 19:10
- John 1:10-13, 1:29, 3:16,17; 6:51; 10:7-10; 12:47-48; 17:2
- Acts 2:21, 36-41; 3:11-26, 4:8-12, 5:29-32, 10:39-43, 13:38-41; 16:29-34; 22:14-16
- Rom. 1:1-5, 3:21-26, 4:25, 5:1,2,9-11, 8:1-4,28-34; 10:9-13
- 1 Cor. 6:11, 15:1-8
- 2 Cor. 5:18-21
- Gal. 1:3-5, 2:20; 3:13-14, 4:3-7; 6:14
- Eph. 1:1-14, 2:1-22, 5:22-27
- Phil. 2:5-11
- Col. 1:10-14, 19-23, 2:9-15
- 1 Th. 1:10, 5:9-10
- 2 Th. 2:13
- 1 Tim. 2:5-6
- 2 Tim. 1:8-14, 2:8-14
- Tit. 2:11-14, 3:3-8
- Heb. 1:1-4, 2:9-11,15,17, 7:26-28, 9:12-15,24-28, 10:10,14
- 1 Pet. 1:3-5,8-9,18-21, 2:21-25, 3:18-22
- 1 Jn. 1:8-2:2, 3:4-5; 5:10-12
The Response:
Becoming a Child of God: How to Become a Christian
Coming to know Jesus Christ is the most important decision that any person can make, and our church is excited that we may be able to help you with this. Recorded in the New Testament (the second major section of the Bible) is the good news message about Jesus Christ and the path one follows in becoming a child of His. Here the question is answered, “How should men and women who want to follow Jesus respond to Jesus Christ?” Acts 2:14-47 gives a concise presentation, in Peter’s sermon, of the gospel and how those who heard responded.
What does the New Testament say should be my response to Jesus Christ?
A believing, accepting, committing, confessing, obedient faith.
1. Believing. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died to save you and who rose from the dead to reign as Lord of the universe?
Mark 16:16; John 1:12; 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; 6:35-36; 11:25-26; Acts 9:42; 11:17; Romans 1:16-17; 10:8-13; Hebrews 4:2-3; I John 5:1,5,10
2. Accepting. Are you willing to take Him into your heart and life?
Acts 2:41; Galatians 1:9; I Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:21
3. Committing. Are you willing to give yourself to Jesus and to stay with Him no matter what the cost?
Matthew 8:18-22; 10:16-23; Luke 14:25-33; I Peter 4:19
4. Confessing. Are you willing to stand before the whole world and tell them that you believe Jesus is Lord?
Matthew 10:32; John 12:42; Romans 10:9,10; Philippians 2:11; I Timothy 6:12-13; II Timothy 2:19; Hebrews 3:1; 13:15
5. Obedience. Are you willing to do anything Jesus asks of you?
Matthew 28:20; John 14:15,21,23,31; 15:10,20; Romans 1:5; 6:17; 16:26; Ephesians 6:5;Philippians 2:12; II Thessalonians 1:8; Hebrews 5:9; I Peter 1:22; 4:17; I John 2:5; Revelation 12:17
6. Faith. Are you willing to trust in Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Saviour?
Acts 20:21; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 4 and 5; Galatians 2:16; 3:8; Ephesians 2:8; I Timothy 1:4
Repentance
- The message of repentance starts with John the Baptist.
- The call to repentance continues with Jesus.
- It was continued by the disciples.
Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:21-22; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; II Corinthians 7:10; II Timothy 2:25; Hebrews 6:1,2; II Peter 3:9
Baptism
- Baptism is present in the work of John the Baptist, although this baptism was different than Christian baptism.
- Jesus and His disciples carry on the ministry of John’s baptism.
- Jesus Himself is baptized.
- Water baptism became part of the gospel call in the church.
Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 2:41; 8:12; 8:36-38; 9:18; 10:47; 16:14, 15, 31-34; 18:7-8; 19:4-5; 22:16 - What happens with baptism?
Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:5; I Peter 3:21 - Baptism should never be thought of as a work which contributes to our being saved, but as part of the believer’s response to what Jesus has done.
We all must respond to Jesus, even if our response is to disbelieve or to believe and do nothing about it – this is itself a response!