Upcoming Baptism Dates (2013):
+ Sunday, May 19 - Worship Center, 5 p.m.
+ Sunday, August 11 - Annual Outdoor Baptism, 5 p.m. (Athletic Field)
+ November 23/24 - Baptisms in the services
For more info about getting baptized at EFCC, please contact us at (760) 781-2109 or .
Water Baptism According to the New Testament
Baptism beautifully illustrates two things that happen to us when we become followers of Jesus:
(1) First, when you go down into the water, it is a picture of going down into the grave and being buried with Christ. It clearly pictures dying to your old, sinful way of life. This is what Paul means by dying with Christ: We have been set free from the power of sin in our lives. (2) Then, coming up out of the water is a picture of rising to a new kind of life in Christ.
Watch our brief teaching baptism video (or click here for full size).
This video is in Flash (Flash player required).
God calls us to live a new, victorious, Holy Spirit empowered life. So, God not only sets us free from our sinful past, but He also gives us the power to live the new life He has called us to live.
"Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives." (Romans 6:1-4, NLT)
Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward transformation that has occurred. For those of you being baptized, my hope is that as you are being baptized you would remember that you truly have died to your old way of life, and have been set free to live the new life God calls you to live. And for those watching, as they hear the stories and watch the baptisms, may this serve as a great reminder to them of what Christ has done, and an encouragement as they see you taking this step of obedience.
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