River Baptism – July 5th 2009

Mike — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:13:34 +0000

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan [River] to be baptized by John.
But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

- Matthew 3:13-17 (TNIV)

An Overview of Baptism and the Church of the Brethren

From its beginning, the Church of the Brethren denomination was concerned about
baptism. In fact, “much of the early published writings of Brethren authors were about the
subject of baptism.” 7 Baptism and eschatology were written about more than any other subject
by the early leaders.

Early Meaning of Baptism
The Brethren were highly influenced by the Anabaptists who taught the concept of two
Kingdoms: the Kingdom of man, and the Kingdom of God. Christians were to be part of the
Kingdom of God, a separate people of God; and baptism was the symbol of this separation.

Henry Fork Church of the Brethren » John the Baptist

River Baptism – July 5th 2009

An Overview of Baptism and the Church of the Brethren