Sign and Seal - What God Has Done

The Sacrament of Baptism is both a sign and a seal. As a sign, baptism signifies what God has done in Christ. Baptism proclaims the "Good News" of the Gospel: that God offers us forgiveness and new life in Christ and the water of baptism signifies this cleansing.

Baptism is also a seal. As wax was often used in the ancient world to claim, "this letter is owned by me and given to you," baptism is a mark of God's ownership (much like a tattoo or brand is a mark of ownership) upon us. Baptism is the seal that God has entered into covenant with us and it is the mark of Christ's death and resurrection. In baptism, the emphasis is on what God has done for us. It is God's action toward us.

As we journey, baptism serves as a reminder of our true identity when we develop amnesia about ourselves. Through baptism we remember that "I am a Christian, baptized, marked by God, owned by Him" and I am called to live out the implications of this baptism for the rest of my life.

For adults who have been baptized after trusting in Christ, this means developing and growing your faith over the course of your lifetime.

For infants and children, whose parents bring them for baptism, claiming covenant promises on their behalf, this means in time owning this baptism for yourself, placing your faith in Christ, and then developing and growing your faith over the course of your lifetime.  Our children look back to their baptism and say, "from my earliest days, I've been marked, set apart, owned by God, and I respond to this in faith and repentance."

As we are nourished and fed in the Lord's Supper, in baptism we are grafted not only into Christ, but also received into a community. Therefore, baptism is not a private act, but rather it is an act of making covenant promises and identifying with the local church community.

Next Steps

To be baptized or have a child baptized, you must be a member of City Church. If you are not a member and would like to become one, baptism and membership vows can happen simultaneously.

Step #1
Attend the Intro to City Church course and become a member. Read more about the Membership process >

Step #2
Register online for a worship service date and time that you and/or your child will be baptized.

Step #3
Register and attend a Baptism Prep Meeting. This meeting is mandatory for adults being baptized and for those that are having a child baptized for the first time at City Church.

Step #4
Take vows in the presence of City Church Elders.

Step #5
Take vows in the worship service.

If you have questions about Baptism, please contact us here >