| CONGREGATION |
| |
| Pastor | ||
| Officers | ||
| KIDS CORNER | ||
| History | ||
| Links | ||
| Cemetery | ||
The Sacrament of Baptism
 | In the Jewish tradition, the mikveh was a bath that allowed believers to purify their soul. In Leviticus, Aaron is instructed to bathe and put on new garments before sacrificing a goat. There are other examples in the Old Testament of using immersion in water as an expression of becoming clean in the sight of God. When John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, it represented the beginning of his ministry on earth. A dove flew down and sat on Jesus' shoulder and a voice boomed from heaven saying "This is my son of whom I am well pleased." Because of this, a dove has become a symbol of Baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. After his cruficixion, Jesus appeared to his disciples and told them to spread the Good News, "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:18). Religions use the word 'sacrament' to mean a physical way of showing people a spiritual truth. Sacraments are the most important ways of experiencing our individual connection with God. Lutherans believe that to qualify as a sacrament, the practice must have been instituted by God. When Jesus told the disciples to baptize, that made it a sacrament. The only other sacrament in the Lutheran church is communion, begun by Jesus at the Last Supper. Lutherans do not believe that baptism is necessary for salvation. We believe that forgiveness of sins is a gift from God and not something we can earn by saying or doing any specific thing. Salvation is about the true faith in your heart, and that is something that only God can see and judge. In many religions, baptism is thought to be the way a believer makes a promise to God by declaring his or her faith. Because we believe that forgiveness and eternal life are gifts that cannot be earned, Lutherans understand that baptism is a physical representation of God's promise to us. Although people of any age can be baptized, Lutheran parents are encouraged to baptize their babies so that they can grow up knowing they are a part of God's family. Along with an expression of God's promise, baptism represents the parents' and the community's sacred commitment to nurture and support their newest family and community member. |
| January 2017 | ||||
 |  |   |  |  |
| In the Bible | Coloring Page* | Wordsearch* | Music | Craft Project |
* Opens in a new window
| Top of Page | Kids Corner Home | Last Page Viewed | |
Copyright 2022 Concordia Lutheran Church 6637 80th Avenue North Glyndon MN 56547 | |||
| Site Index | Search the Website | Contact Us | |