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Baptism & Confirmation
Did you know that it is every Christian's responsibility to be baptized or confirmed? It is a mandate given to us directly by Jesus himself. If you remember the famous verse found in Matthew 28:19-20, known commonly as the great commission, it states that Christians are to make disciples, BAPTIZING them Thus to be a Christian and not be baptized or confirmed is to live in disobedience. I hope every Christian that reads this, who is not yet baptized or confirmed, will prayerfully take the necessary steps to become baptized.
Did you know that baptism first of all, does not equal salvation. In other words, you are not saved by being baptized. And just because you are baptized doesn.t mean you are saved. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ only (Eph. 2:8-9). However, baptism is specifically a public act of confessing Jesus as Saviour, an act which in itself brings joy and blessing to a believer. Moreover, it is a sign of the believer.s death and resurrection with Christ (see Rom. 6:2-5; Col. 2:12), and it seems fitting that the Holy Spirit would work through such a sign to increase our faith, to increase our experiential realization of death to the power and love of sin in our lives, and to increase our experience of the power of new resurrection life in Christ that we have as believers (Systematic Theology, Grudem, p.953).
Here are the requirements for Baptismal Candidacy, Baptism, and Confirmation.
Baptismal candidacy, baptism and confirmation are all important steps in the Christian.s life. These events signify one.s genuine commitment to Jesus Christ in the presence of witnesses. Even Jesus himself was baptized. Baptism is basically an outward expression of one.s faith in Christ and a natural step following one.s conversion. This is a decision that you must make, not your parents, though you should seek their counsel.
Qualifications for Baptismal Candidacy
- must be a genuine Christian.
- has never been baptized as an infant.
- desires to be baptized as an adult.
Qualifications for Baptism
- Has met qualifications of Baptismal Candidacy.
- must have taken baptismal candidacy class at least six months prior to seeking baptism.
- must be a genuine Christian.
Qualifications for Confirmation
- must be a genuine Christian.
- was baptized as an infant.
Baptism is offered in the Spring and Fall seasons. Please contact the church office to sign up at office@yntoronto.com
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