Baptism
Having responded to the gospel with repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ, believers are also to observe the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
What is a Sacrament?
A sacrament is a blessing from Christ which is a sign (a picture) and a seal (a mark of being set apart) given to teach and assure believers of their salvation. The sacraments serve as visible signs of an invisible grace which has already taken place in the life of the believer. The Lord Jesus ordained two sacraments: baptism (Matt. 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23), also known as “communion.” Participation in the sacraments does not bring salvation; this comes only by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 2:16).
What Baptism Symbolizes
Baptism uniquely portrays the believer’s union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5). Therefore, at Covenant Life we practice baptism by immersion, which vividly pictures these realities.
Romans 6:4: “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.”
Who Should Be Baptized
Baptism points to the beginning of the Christian life (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38) and displays one’s commitment to turn from sin and trust in Christ for salvation. For this reason, we do not baptize infants. If you were baptized as an infant, we would ask that—in obedience to Scripture and as part of becoming a member of Covenant Life Church—you be baptized as a believer. Acts 8:12: “…when they believed…they were baptized, both men and women.”
A Candidate for Baptism Should Be Able To:
a. Communicate the content of the gospel as well as an expression of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
b. Evidence godly sorrow over sin, followed by repentance which leads to the fruit of the Spirit.
c. Examine himself and the condition of his soul (1 Cor. 11:27-32).
d. Demonstrate a willingness to turn away from the world and instead live a life keeping God’s commands and loving God’s church (1 John 2:15-17; 5:1-5).
e. Exhibit fruit which proceeds from regeneration (Gal. 5:22-23).
The Baptism Process
• Listen to the baptism message by Joshua Harris titled “The Sacraments, Part 1: Water Baptism,” available in the Resource Library (here) or on CD by request.
• Click here to complete an online application for baptism. Once we receive your application, we will contact you to schedule your baptism and provide other details. Note: This application is for adults. Parents of youth who would like to be baptized should contact their pastor for instructions. See the Youth Baptism page for more information.
• Prepare your testimony. Each person being baptized will read a brief testimony as a part of their public identification with Christ.
• Get baptized! You will receive details on how to prepare for this day when we receive your application. We look forward to celebrating with you!
We also make it a regular practice to share in the Lord’s Supper together as a congregation at our Sunday morning meetings. Parents who have questions about the appropriate timing of baptism and its relationship to participation in the Lord’s Supper will benefit from reading “The Sacraments: Questions and Answers for Parents.” (PDF, 1mb)