Baptism Information

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

64 EAST NORTH STREET, CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA 17013

 

(717) 249-4729

firstumc1@embarqmail.com

UPDATED 12/05/08

Baptism Form

(Microsoft Word document)

SACRAMENT OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

The Sacrament of Christian Baptism is a powerful moment where God’s grace in Christ is poured into us, and we become a part of the Christian faith community.

 

 

What does The United Methodist Church believe about baptism?

· Baptism is a sign of belonging to the family of God.

· We are not saved by baptism. It is a symbol of salvation, not the act.

· Methodists practice infant baptism because there is scriptural evidence that entire households, including children, were baptized, as recorded in the book of Acts. (Acts 16:15 )

· A person only needs to be baptized once, even if the baptism occurs as an infant.

· A person who was baptized as an infant and wishes to be baptized as a believer may do so by being baptized as a reaffirmation of what his/her parents declared years before.

· Baptism is one of the two sacraments of the United Methodist Church. The other is Holy Communion. A sacrament is a special command of the Lord, using outward signs (water or bread and wine) to convey the grace of God.

Baptism is the glorious sign of inclusion into the family of God. This great privilege is offered to us, freely, through the saving work of Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned all who are part of His family to, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19). Thus, the command to baptize is an inseparable part of disciple making. It is an expression of becoming part of God's eternal family.

Through water, baptism becomes an outward sign of the grace of God at work in the life of the person being baptized.  Just as a wedding ring is an outward sign of a marriage relationship, the water used in baptism is an outward sign of an individual becoming part of the family of God through the sacrificial gift of Christ on the cross.

Infant Baptism
Infants are declared to be a part of God's family through the profession of faith of the parents. Also, the parents promise to bring the child up in the Christian faith and to be active the local church. The inclusion of infants into the family of God is the affirmation that “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Our Lord declared that children have a special place in the Kingdom of God . As such they are no less part of God's family here on earth.

 

Adult Baptism
United Methodists baptize people of all ages who have not previously received the sacrament.  Persons of the age to hear and respond to the Gospel message are called into a relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is created through faith in Jesus Christ. After entering into this relationship with Christ a person is baptized as an outward sign of being adopted into God's family.

First United Methodist Church

Carlisle, Pennsylvania