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In the Early Church, baptisms were conducted in public places and marked the person as a follower of Christ.
Today, baptisms are often performed inside church buildings, yet a public demonstration of faith in Jesus remains
part of the practice. The person who is baptized identifies with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
The apostle Paul explained that baptism also represents the believer's union with Christ:
Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore
buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Romans 6:3-4).
Immersion in water symbolizes the end of the old way of life. Coming up out of the water represents the new life found in Christ.
The person who was previously dead in sin has been made spiritually alive by the same power that raised Jesus from the grave.
United with Him, the believer is released from the power of sin.
Paul portrays this life change as putting on new clothes:
. . .for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27).
Water baptism identifies a person as a disciple of Christ and celebrates passage from the old life into new life in Christ.
Simply stated, it is an outward sign of an inward change.
Water baptism was established by Jesus when He called His apostles to make disciples of all nations and to baptize them
in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). Christian and Missionary Alliance churches encourage
all followers of Jesus to be baptized.
Source: The Christian and Missionary Alliance
If you are interested in taking the step of baptism you can email info@thepineschurch.org to begin the baptism process.
You will then be contacted to arrange a time for your interview with an Elder.
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