BAPTISM
One of my favorite days of the year is when I get to witness a Christian following Jesus into the waters of baptism. Baptism is like a wedding ring. It is an outward symbol of an inward commitment. It does not provide salvation.
The Bible makes clear that we are saved by grace, NOT by works so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8,9).
Baptism is a wonderful opportunity to publicly declare our faith in Jesus Christ!
We are commanded by Jesus to baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The question often comes up, “Do we baptize babies?” And the answer is we do not. Once Jesus got baptized, every single person recorded in scripture who got baptized was a believer.
That’s why at RISE, we follow the command of Scripture by immersing people in the waters of baptism after they have personally put their faith in Jesus Christ.
And if you have not experienced the joy of publicly declaring your faith in Jesus through baptism, we invite you to contact us via email at hello@risemke.church.
CHILD DEDICATION
A child dedication is an opportunity for parents to celebrate the birth of a child, give thanks, recognize the child as God’s gift to them, and commit to parenting in such a way as to give the child every opportunity to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
While a Child Dedication is not an ordinance along the lines of Baptism or the Lord’s Supper, it is certainly supported by Scripture. Examples of
Child Dedications in the Bible include Hannah’s dedication of Samuel as described in 1 Samuel chapter one and Mary and Joseph’s dedication of Jesus in Luke chapter two.
It is important to note that a Child Dedication does not have an effect concerning salvation of the child. However, it is a great opportunity for the parents to commit to God and to the church body to raise their child in such a way as to give the child every opportunity to put their faith in Jesus.
If you would like to inquire about the possibility of dedicating your child to the Lord, please reach out to hello@risemke.church!
