Raised to LIFE!

 Baptisms

Baptism, or "baptismo" is the Greek word meaning "to immerse". This spring our church has done a sermon series called Raised to Life, in which we dug into Ephesians 1, explicitly dealing with what the gospel is and how our lives are to reflect it. Understanding that, as those who are saved, we are not only saved from our sin and given eternal life (INCREDIBLE news), but are adopted as God's own sons and daughters. To be adopted. To be chosen. There is nothing we can say or do that will affect His love for us. We cannot earn it, nor lose it.

In response to this truth, Jesus modeled baptism as a picture of what has taken place in our lives. As a symbol of being dead to our own sin and shortcomings, and then being raised to life we are called to share our story with those closest to us. We know that there is nothing "saving" about the act of baptism, but we see the importance in sharing what Christ has done in our own hearts and lives for those around us, allowing them to encourage and support us as we walk this life-long journey of being a Christ follower.

It has been my absolute joy to see dear friends share their stories and to celebrate what Christ has uniquely done in their lives. These pictures are but a glimpse of the tears and celebration that I've gotten to be a part of.

 
 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:1-14