What is Baptism?
Baptism is an ancient Christian practice, instituted by Jesus himself. It is a way to publicly declare, commemorate, and celebrate the new life that has been given to us by trusting in Christ as Lord and Savior.
Immersion in the water is a beautiful, symbolic picture of two things:
(1) Jesus’ burial and resurrection
(2) The end of our old life and the start of our new life in Christ
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. (Gal. 2:26-27)
How does Baptism look at Real Hope?
The baptism itself is pretty straightforward, and will only take a few minutes. There will be a small pool on our patio outside the sanctuary. We will talk briefly about the historical and spiritual significance of baptism, and then invite you to step into the water and sit down. If you’d like, you can share a few words about what the Lord has been doing in your life and why you’ve chosen to be baptized, but this is optional.
We will then ask you a simple question: Is it true you've placed your trust in Christ as your Lord and savior? You can simply nod or say ‘yes.’
Then, one of our pastors (or any other Christian of your choice) will say, Then I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and lean you back into the water.
When you come up out of the water, it will be to the sound of clapping and celebration! We encourage you to invite friends and family for the occasion.