Baptisms

Membership of God's Family (The Church)

Baptism is God's public way into His Family. The children of believers and believers themselves, who trust Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, we recognise as God's sons and daughters. In obedience to Jesus's command we mark entrance into God's Family by baptism.

"Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 - The Message)

First-generation Christians of the first century AD had to decide where they saw their children in relation to God and His Family. In the Old Testament children were marked by the rite of circumcision to signify their welcome into God's Family (similar to baptism). The Passover meal became the special meal to celebrate the Jewish nation's deliverance from slavery in Egypt (similar to Communion/Lord's Supper). We believe, in common with many other Reformed Churches, that the Old Covenant God made with the Jews is a fore-runner to the New Covenant (relationship) which Jesus brings us into through his life, death abd resurrection. If children are included in the Old Testament Family of God, how much more should they be included in the New Testament Family of God. Thus we baptise our children.

In Acts 2:38-39 Peter responds to the crowd gobsmacked by the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptised, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away - whomever, in fact, our Master God invites." (The Message)

Believers
Baptism is the public way into God's Family for those who come to faith beyond childhood. We believe infant baptism is the proper public way into God's Family for babies and children of believing parents, who confess the faith and commit to raising their child in the faith.

In the first century AD Cornelius, a Roman centurion, was converted and his whole household baptised (Acts 10). Likewise in Acts 16 a jailer is converted and along with his whole family baptised. Children could well have been present and included in these baptisms.

The water in baptism stands for the washing away of our sins by Jesus's death. When believers or believers' children are fully immersed in water the symbolism is very clear, that they have been completely cleansed of their sin, entirely buried with Jesus. As they come up out of the water they rise with Jesus to newness of life in Christ. In the Presbyterian Church we usually only use a sprinkling of water over the head in baptism but the symbolism is the same!

The Faith of believers and believing parents is vital for both types of baptism and we do our best to help you deepen and nurture your faith through a Christianity Explored course. This enables your own baptism or child's baptism to be all the more meaningful, personally aware of the Faith into which you/they are being baptised.

The Family of God, into which you or your children are baptised, want to be able to get to know you and help you to grow in the Faith and in your sense of belonging, thus coming Sunday by Sunday to family worship ensures that baptism is all the more meaningful for all concerned.

Confirmation of Baptism
Infant Baptism requires parents and the church family to keep the vows they make to raise their children in the Faith. Our shared hope and prayer is that our children will grow up to recognise Jesus as their Saviour and Lord and want, of their own freewill, to publicly confess their personal faith and confirm their earlier baptism. At Fullarton this usually happens at the age of 15 and up. This is the opportunity for our young folk to show that they have come of age in their faith and want to publicly commit themselves to Christ and His Church.

Please speak to the minister if you have any questions or are interested in being baptised or having your baptism confirmed.

Already baptised as a believer or confirmed in another church?
If you have been a member of another Christian church elsewhere and want to join Fullarton you can transfer membership lines to Fullarton (simply ask your previous church's roll keeper to send your membership lines). If it is some time since you were an active member in your previous church you can join by resolution of the Kirk Session, where we recognise your previous baptism, profession of faith and present commitment to Christ and His Church.

Please speak to the minister if you have any questions or would like to explore joining Fullarton Church in any of these ways.