Sunday Morning Service

FBC Family,

We will begin our service today with a special time of baptism. Some of you might be wondering, "Why is baptism even necessary for me?"

It's important to understand that baptism itself doesn't save us. Salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, baptism is deeply connected to our turning away from sin (repentance) and receiving God's forgiveness. Think of it as a powerful symbol—the washing away of our sins made possible by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

Baptism is also a public way of saying, "I am a follower of Jesus." Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 10:33: "But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." Once we've encountered the Lord Jesus and our lives are changed, we naturally want to share that with others. Just like sharing anything we love, our love for Jesus leads us to want to publicly show that we belong to Him. It's a natural outpouring of gratitude and commitment.

Baptism also marks our entrance into the family of believers, the church. As 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body."

Furthermore, baptism is an act of obedience to Jesus' clear command to "come and follow Him." The words often spoken during baptism, "Buried in Baptism, Raised to walk in newness of life," illustrate this.

If you've accepted the Lord, asked for his forgiveness, and experienced the amazing grace he offers through his death for us, then baptism is the natural next step in your journey of following Him.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus gave his followers a clear instruction: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." This command applies to all who choose to follow Jesus.

If you haven't yet been baptized, I encourage you to seriously consider taking this significant first step in your walk with the Lord.