“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20
In obedience to Christ’s command, the church baptizes believers and their children.
New followers of Jesus are baptized on the basis of their own profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The children of believers are baptized on the basis of God’s covenant promises and the faith of their parents, who commit to raising them in the instruction and care of the church.
Just as circumcision was the sign of God’s gracious covenant with Abraham and his children, baptism is the sign of God’s gracious covenant fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Baptism marks the beginning of the Christian life and points to the reality that, through faith in Christ, we are received as sons and daughters of our heavenly Father.
Water is used to visibly represent the cleansing of our sins that God offers through Jesus Christ. Baptism does not save us by the act itself; rather, it points us to the grace of God, reminding us that salvation is received not by our deeds, but by God’s mercy and love in Christ.
One Baptism
We believe that baptism is to be administered only once to a person. Whether baptized as an infant or as an adult, baptism is a lasting sign of God’s covenant faithfulness and does not need to be repeated.
Baptism in the Life of the Church
Baptism is the visible sign of belonging to Jesus Christ and to His church. It ordinarily takes place during a regular worship service, where the congregation may witness and rejoice in God’s covenant promises and commit to supporting those who are baptized.
Through baptism, a person is publicly identified with Christ and incorporated into the visible community of God’s people—the one church universal as it is expressed in a local congregation.
The sign of baptism is water, and we use ordinary water to point us to God’s gracious work in Christ.
For parents who present their children for baptism, the church comes alongside them in the shared responsibility of nurturing children in the faith. Because baptism is connected to belonging and life in the church, conversations about baptism often overlap with questions about church membership at Covenant. You can learn more about membership here.
Next Steps
If you would like to be baptized, have your child baptized, or have questions about baptism, one of the pastors would be glad to speak with you.