BAPTISM IS NORMAL CHRISTIANITY
Jesus identified baptism as a defining action for all of his followers when he said: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matt 28:19,20 NIV). Paul’s comments to the Roman believers also show us that baptism was a definitive part of life in the early Christian community: We were... buried with him [Jesus] through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Rom 6:3,4 NIV).

WHAT’S IN A NAME?
A more helpful translation of the Greek word baptizo is the word ‘immerse’. Throughout Greek literature, baptizo means to put something or someone within and under something else. So to be baptised in water actually means to be fully immersed in water.

The emphasis of the word baptizo is on the result of the ‘immersing’. Think of clothing that is dipped into a coloured dye. The clothing is immersed in the dye, and the most important part of this process is how the dye transforms the clothing. Here’s another picture: If a cucumber is placed in a jar of vinegar, after a while, that cucumber takes on the character of the vinegar while still retaining the qualities of a cucumber – we now call it a pickle. This is the picture of baptizo – immersion....

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YOUR OWN IMMERSION
Consider what this means for you today. If you have not yet experienced immersion into Jesus the Messiah and would like to pursue this, please contact us. New Life currently celebrates Baptisms twice a year, with opportunities typically provided in March and November.
Click here to email us or call 9336 5333.