Baptism at Life Center

Life Center exists to bring LIFE in Jesus to every LIFE in our communities. This is our Mission Statement. This is our why. It is a big statement, and it also starts with a big premise. This premise is that the life people are living without Jesus isn’t life at all. If Jesus is the answer, we probably should understand the problem.

OUR PROBLEM: We are separated from God.
God is perfect, holy, and faultless. He has created us in His own image, and He has given us the freedom to choose whether we will love and obey Him. Instead of obeying God, we choose to rebel against Him and live life our own way. The Bible calls our disobedience to God sin. The consequence of our sin is separation from God, which results in physical and spiritual death.

THE BIBLE TELLS US

Everyone has sinned against God.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 (CSB)

Our attempts to reach God fail.
“There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12 (CSB)

Death is the penalty for our sins, eternal life is a gift.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (CSB)

GOD’S REMEDY: Jesus is the answer to our problem.
God sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay the death penalty that we deserve through His death on the cross. Though He was perfect, He paid the price for our sin. Jesus rose from the grave and has bridged the gap between God and us.

THE BIBLE TELLS US

God gave His only Son to save us.
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (CSB)

Jesus made our relationship with God possible.
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (CSB)

Jesus is the only way to bridge the gap between God and us.
“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (CSB)

OUR RESPONSE: Surrender your life to Jesus.
Though God has made a way for us to have relationship with him, this relationship requires our response. Have you chosen to accept the way God has provided? Have you received the gift of His son, Jesus, as your Savior?

THE BIBLE TELLS US

Life in Jesus is a gift we receive through faith.
“For you are saved by grace, through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift – not from works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB)

Agree with this truth… Jesus is Lord.
“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (CSB)

Repent (turn away from your sin) and choose to live according to God’s plan for your life.
“Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.” Acts 3:19-20 (CSB)

Be baptized and live empowered by the Holy Spirit.
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 (CSB)

WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It represents our death to sin, burial with Christ, and resurrection into new life with Him. (See Romans 6:1-7, Acts 22:16, Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 3:21)

WHO CAN BE BAPTIZED?
Anyone who is old enough to understand its significance, has confessed his or her trust in Christ, and is willing to turn from their sins and live according to God’s plan. (See Acts 2:38-39)

WHY IMMERSION?
The New Testament examples of baptism are by immersion. The Greek word literally means “to dip under water.”

OUR RESPONSE: God’s purpose for us is restored and we live a new life.
When we surrender to Jesus, we can be confident we are saved. God no longer holds our sin against us. His Spirit lives in us, and we can begin the process of becoming more like Jesus. As we live this new life we are invited to the greatest mission ever; to bring life in Jesus to every life in our communities.

THE BIBLE TELLS US

We can be sure we are saved.
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 (CSB)

God will give us the gift of His Spirit.
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 (CSB)

We become a new person in Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

CAN MY INFANT BE BAPTIZED?
Throughout the New Testament, the Bible teaches that baptism is a public expression of worship symbolizing the new life we have when we follow Jesus. In the Bible we see that Jesus’ parents dedicated him to the Lord (Luke 2:22–40), and he was later baptized as an adult (Matthew 3:16–17).

We understand that some churches practice “baptism of confirmation” for children. This ceremony is intended to be a commitment between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their child in the faith until the child is old enough to make his or her own personal confession of Jesus. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed and is different from the biblical examples of new believers being baptized to publicly profess their faith in Jesus.

So at Life Center we provide opportunities for child dedications during our gatherings. To schedule a child dedication, please complete the Child Dedication Form.