Baptism

Churches of Christ can be associated with various believer’s church traditions in maintaining the scriptural warrant for believer’s immersion (as opposed to infant sprinkling or a purely sacramental understanding). Many churches are embracing this insight into the meaning of immersion.

Churches of Christ, however, remain a prophetic church in proclaiming the dramatic, cosmic effect of God’s work through baptism, of effecting a new Adam, in Christ (Eph 2). Over against certain current evangelical traditions which view baptism as a symbol of prior action, Churches of Christ understand Paul’s reminder in Romans 6 that through the waters, believers actually come to participate in the very death of the Christ… and then, ordered by God’s Spirit out of chaos at the waters (Gen 1:2), we receive His spirit, God’s life for us in Christ (Gal 3:27; Acts 2:38), as Jesus received the Spirit at baptism and was acknowledged His son ((Lk 3:22). Believers follow Jesus in being baptized, knowing his call is a calling to die (Mk 10:38). Read about preparing for baptism.