Sacraments
BAPTISM
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Baptism is the church’s proclamation that we are who we are because God chose us, loves us, and calls us into his kingdom. In Baptism, we participate in Jesus’s death and resurrection by dying to what separates us from God and by being raised to newness of life in Christ. Baptism is an act of obedience that allows you to make a public declaration of your faith, declaring that you have given the steering wheel of your life to God. Baptism is not a condition of salvation, but rather a response to the redemption and love of Jesus. This is an important step in your journey as a follower of Christ, and an outward symbol of the work God has already done in your life.
Baptism is one of two sacraments practiced by Presbyterians; Communion is the other. The act of baptism is deceptively simple—but in a handful of water, there is a deep well of mystery and meaning.
In baptism, we are called to a new way of life as Christ’s disciples, sharing the good news of the gospel with all the world. Being baptized is both a response to the invitation to walk the Way of Jesus and also a visible sign that God in Christ chooses us even before that choice. It’s an outward, or visible, symbol of the inner work and invisible grace God has already done in your life.
Learn more about baptism through this video, or read on below. If you’d like to be baptized fill out the digital form at the end of the page to let us know.
Presbyterians describe baptism as a sign and seal of the covenant of grace made by God through Jesus and extended to us. In baptism, God claims us as beloved children and members of Christ’s body, the church, washing us clean from sin as we renounce the power of evil and seek the will and way of God.
Presbyterians have recognized baptism as one of two sacraments initiated by Christ in Scripture. All four Gospels report the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22; John 1:29–34). When we are baptized with water in the name of the Trinity, we share in Christ’s own baptism.
Presbyterians celebrate baptism as a communal act of public worship. Our Reformed Tradition believes that the power of baptism doesn’t come from the act itself (it’s not magic!), but from its connection with the promise of God conveyed in Scripture. Baptism isn’t the last stop on a journey but it to be followed by ongoing instruction in the faith, particularly through the study of the Bible, acts of service and spiritual formation.
Presbyterians practice both adult and infant baptism. Infant baptism expresses that it is God who chooses us for faith, discipleship, and salvation; without God, we have no power to claim these things for ourselves. However, we affirm that people come to faith at different stages in life, and recognize the baptism of older believers as an equally valid expression of the sacrament.
While pouring or sprinkling water upon the head is most common, Presbyterians also allow for baptism by immersion. Whatever the method, the deep significance of baptism demands a visible and generous use of water, conveying the lavish outpouring of God’s grace, filling believers with the gifts of the Spirit, and overflowing in lives of faithfulness, service, and love.
A teaching elder—a pastor—must preside at the baptism, but it is a congregation’s session (or ruling council) that authorizes baptisms and provides for the spiritual growth and nurture of members. That’s why a ruling elder of the church always presents the candidate for baptism. In turn, both the family and the congregation promise to contribute to the baptized person’s Christian formation.
Can anyone be baptized? Yes! Christ’s gracious invitation is open to all. However, baptism is but the beginning of a lifelong process of formation in the faith.
Can a person who is not baptized be saved? In a word, yes; but this by no means diminishes the importance of the sacrament. To insist on baptism as necessary for salvation would be to impinge on the limitless sovereignty of God, one of the essentials of the Reformed theological tradition. At the same time, baptism is an indispensable part of Christian life (Rom. 6:3–4), Christian identity (Gal. 3:27–28), and the church’s mission (Matt. 28:19).
Do non-Presbyterians need to be baptized when joining the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)? Not if they were previously baptized. The PC(USA) recognizes all baptisms with water in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit administered by other Christian churches.
So remember your baptism and be thankful! In the sacrament of baptism—our inclusion in the covenant of grace, incorporation into the life of Christ, and anointing with the gifts of the Spirit—we have countless reasons to give God thanks and praise. As Jesus said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Filled with the never-failing grace of Jesus Christ poured out for us, our hearts overflow with gratitude and joy, spilling out into the world in lives of service and love for God and neighbor.
Planning a wedding
Are you a member of CAPC Oakland, a friend or looking to be married in a Christian setting and service? If so, please fill out the below info sheet to begin the process of being married at CAPC Oakland or by Rev. Monte McClain.
Planning a celebration of Life
Many people don't want to talk about death, or to think about it. But it's something that we will all face. Death is a part of life. The Christian perspective on life neither denies or minimizes the reality of death; even if we affirm the promise and potential of resurrection life.
It's not macabre or twisted to think about your death, leaving your wishes and desires for a life celebration in your honor after your death. In our community these gatherings are a true celebration: celebrating the ways in which God blessed a particular person and how God blesses us as a community through knowing and walking with that person.
If you’re a member of the CAPC Oakland Community we invite you to fill out the form below to record your desires and wishes for the way in which we as a community might celebrate you, your life, the way we glimpsed God in you and the ways in which God blessed you. Simply fill out the form below, being sure to click SUBMIT when you’re finished, and the form will go digitally to the church office for safe-keeping.