Baptism

Who Should Be Baptized: 

Christians are people who believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin.  Therefore, salvation occurs only when a person places his or her faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as the sufficient payment for his or her sin.

If you have invited Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior, then you are ready to be baptized.  Just like a bride and groom show others their love for one another by wearing wedding bands, your baptism is your opportunity to publicly show others that you have asked Christ to be your Savior and are now walking with Him.

 

Baptism is a way of showing others that a person has entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It symbolizes what took place in his/her heart at the time of salvation:

 

• *That you have decided to follow Jesus Christ as your Savior, and placed your eternal hope in Him alone.
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• *Sharing in His death and resurrection illustrated by going under the water (dead to our old life), then rising again (new life).
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• *Being symbolically washed clean, our sins having been forgiven by His death on the cross.

Because Jesus instructed us to be baptized, baptism is therefore an act of obedience. While it is not necessary for salvation, it demonstrates submission to God. Those who are baptized at Parkview are immersed under water because Jesus commands it in Scripture as the way to publicly acknowledge our faith in Him. (Matthew 28:18-20)

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In some denominations, infant christening represents a decision made by parents that they are dedicating their child to Christ.  In many ways, that's the same reason we do baby dedications at Parkview.  It's a very important time for parents to commit to raise their children in accordance with the teachings of Scripture.  It is important to remember that whether you were christened as a baby or your parents participated in a baby dedication, that doesn't make you a Christian.  Only a personal acceptance of Christ's death on the cross for your sins can do that.  While we recognize the right of other churches to practice infant christening, we understand Scripture to teach that only professing believers qualify for baptism.

Contact the church office, either by telephone at 630-469-4306, or by sending us an email at info@pccmail.org.

Download this document that highlights our beliefs about baptism, as well as some of the logistical details of being baptized here at Parkview.  (CLICK TO DOWNLOAD)