Podcast
GROWTH TRACK
Discovering your potentials, destiny and purpose.
The CIC Growth Track guides you to discover your God-given potential in order to discover your destiny and fulfil God's purpose for your life. The Growth Track is made up of four steps that equip you to
1) take the next steps of faith (4 steps into maturity)
2) fulfil the righteousness of baptism
3) join the small groups and dream team
4) become Christ's disciple- Apostle of the marketplace
2. Baptism
Water baptism symbolizes the death of the old man and is only relevant after one is saved.
It is the immersion in water following repentance from sin.
MINISTER: The Pastor or any other presiding minister (Matt 28:19)
Baptism is an important step of obedience that shows others we have personally trusted Jesus for our salvation. Jesus was baptized when He was on the earth, and we do this to follow His example. When Christians are baptized, they are submerged under water to identify with the death and burial of Jesus and raised out of the water to identify with His resurrection. We believe that water baptism is a public declaration of three important things:
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you are a follower of Jesus Christ
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you are beginning a changed life in Christ, and
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you are part of a new family.​​
STEPS:
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Attend our service at the campus nearest you on the first Sunday of each month where we will celebrate water baptism.(Register for baptism Class, ahead, if you need to know more about the practice
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Invite family and friends to witness your baptism. Water baptism is a time of celebration and public declaration of new life in Christ. Bring your friends and family with you to a Highlands service so you can celebrate together.
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Don’t worry about what to bring for water baptism. Our team is prepared with everything you need.
NEXT BAPTISM:
Join us at the campus nearest you on the first Sunday of each month, where we will celebrate water baptism. To give you every opportunity to publicly declare your commitment to Jesus, baptisms will be offered after every service.
Check below for times most convenient for you, and invite your family and friends to witness you take this next step in your faith.
DATE:
This program takes place after service.
Why Baptism?
Matt 3:14-15 (NIV) But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now;
it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
If it is important for Jesus to be baptised, it is important for you too.
Were the early followers of Jesus Christ baptized?
Yes, the early followers of Jesus were baptized.
Why? Because Jesus commanded them to be. It was one of the most important commandments he gave. Baptism was the way in which people showed that they believed in Jesus and his teaching. Each new convert became a member of a special group of people, the disciples of Jesus. They preached God's Word and Iooked forward to the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. Jesus taught them that, "Those who believe it (the gospel - the good news of his teaching) and receive baptism will be saved" (Mark 16:16). We must take Jesus at his word if we want to be accepted by him. Baptism is a life-saving command from Jesus Christ. Philip believed that. He preached in Samaria, so successfully, that "when they came to believe Philip, with his good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized (Acts 8:12).
The message of belief, followed by baptism, is at the heart of the New Testament.
What does the Bible say about baptism?
Today, many churches sprinkle infants on the head and call it baptism.
This is not the baptism of the Bible. When the Bible speaks of baptism it tells us of adult men and women who make a deliberate choice. They wanted to obey the Lord Jesus and be baptized. They were completely covered in water. This is the baptism of Bible times.
A good example to prove this is found in Acts 8. Philip talked with an Ethiopian eunuch.
He "told him the good news of Jesus" (verse 35). No doubt, while they talked, they were both carrying water for their journeys. It would have been easy for Philip to sprinkle water on the eunuch's head. But the eunuch, who believed the words Philip preached about Jesus, was not baptized until "they came to some water" (verse 36). The eunuch then said, "Look, here is water: what is to prevent my being baptized?" So "they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
When they came up from the water . . . the eunuch . . . went on his way rejoicing".
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What does baptism mean?
Why do we have to be completely covered by water when we are baptized?
God chose immersion in water because it is a very powerful way of showing us that our sins must be forgiven. Believers realise that they need saving from sin and require God's grace. They go under the water in baptism, and die to an old way of life. They come up out of the water to a new life. In baptism, believers identify with the death of Jesus Christ, who died for us. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, they also rise from the waters of baptism to "set out on a new life" (Romans 6:4). Now, believers are God's children, and they desire to please Him. If they do so, He will give them His great gift of everlasting Life. This will happen when Jesus comes to rule the world (Luke 1:32,33). No wonder Jesus regarded baptism as being so important.
Why do I need to be baptized?
You need to be baptized because, like all mankind, you are dying. We have all earned the wage of sin. Paul tells us "the wage is death" (Romans 6:23). Without God, death is the end. People have a very bad habit of not wanting to think about important issues that they do not like. Death is one of those issues. We must be wise enough to face it. The good news is that God offers us everlasting life, but on His terms. That is fair, as He is the giver of life. Peter tells us, in Acts 2 and 3, that we must take five steps to salvation. They are:
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Believe in Jesus Christ and his message.
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Repent (have a change of mind, realising that we need God and His forgiveness).
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Be converted (turn round and walk towards God).
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Obey Jesus by having our sins washed away in baptism.
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Continue faithfully in God's way (Acts 2:27-42; 3:18-21).
God always keeps His promises. He will never let us down. As Jesus said, "No one can snatch them out of the Father's care" (John 10:29).
Why must I obey God's commands?
The Bible tells us, from Genesis to Revelation, that God is serious. Obedience to God's commands brings life, and disobedience results in death. God always means what He says. Noah preached to the wicked people of his day (Genesis 6). They had a choice. They could believe Noah's message, repent and be saved, or ignore it and perish. They ignored it and perished. God did not change His mind. Noah also had a choice. He could build an ark and be saved, or he could reject God's word. He built an ark. "Noah carried out exactly all God had commanded him" (verse 22). Because he was obedient, Noah was saved. For us to ignore God's clear command to be baptized is to choose death rather than life.
The jailer at Philippi asked Paul and Silas: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). The answer came: "Put your trust in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." He obeyed and was baptized. Jesus himself, though sinless, was baptized. He said: "It is right for us to do all that God requires" (Matthew 3:15). Can we, who are sinners, ignore baptism when Jesus didn't? We must follow his steps in this, as in all things.
What must I do now, so that I can enjoy life forever in God's kingdom?
To enjoy life for ever, you must take the five steps to salvation; every one of them.
The record in Acts 10 concerning Cornelius shows us that just to live a good life, without being baptized, is not good enough. Peter ordered Cornelius "to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" (verse 48).
Baptism is the start of a new life which will bring you great joy. It will give your life a renewed purpose. In an uncertain world, the God of Peace will give you peace.
Are you wise enough to follow the command of Jesus Christ to believe and be baptized? What a blessing awaits you if you are! God will bless you with life for evermore, when Jesus returns to establish his kingdom. "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Reference: http://www.cbm.org.uk/lft_baptism.htm
Want to learn more about baptism?