Baptism

Its been a while since we've seen any action around here.  Let's get started.

Our desire at Mosaic is that you would know what you believe about Jesus and why.  If you have placed your faith (Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1, ESV) in Jesus and have committed to die daily to your self, take up your cross and follow him, then we want you to be a part of a local church where you can live out Christ's command to GO and make disciples of the nations.  Baptism is a huge part of that.  By being baptized you are...

1.  Identifying yourself with the body of Christ.
2.  Physically demonstrating the spiritual reality that you have died and been buried with Christ and raised to new life with him.
3. You are obedient to the command of Christ in one area while striving to obey in all areas.

This is not for people that have gotten their lives in perfect order.  It is not a symbol of success, but rather a means of showing your belief and acceptance of God's grace in your life as you surrender to his continued work in you.  God is the focus.  He is the one who is drawing you to a new life in him, and he is worth the "risk".  When someone is baptized, the church around them is to keep them accountable to the commitment they have made with Jesus.  We submit to other believers around us and we also help them to remain faithful to the call of Jesus on their life.
Remember that...

...The Lord commands it as a part of discipleship.

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 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)

...Union with Christ is done by Immersion (Literal reading of the Greek)

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4, ESV)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

(1 Peter 3:18-21, ESV)

...For New Covenant believers ONLY through faith in Jesus

11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:11-12, ESV)

It is...

...Uncompromisingly commanded by Jesus.

...Universally administered to Christians entering the early local church.

...Uniquely connected to conversion as an unrepeatable expression of saving faith.

Any questions, PLEASE ask us or talk with someone about this.  It is IMPORTANT that you take this step as a believer, that cannot be emphasized enough.

Love you guys.

Loren