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Water baptism by immersion is a scriptural practice of the early church that we uphold today. Baptism was commanded by Christ (Matt 28:19); and Jesus was also our example (Luke 3:21,22). It is important that as Christians we understand what baptism is, what it represents, and what it does and does not do for us.
Baptism is an act of obedience (Acts 2:38), and is meant for believers (Acts 2:41, 8:36-38, 10:44-48, 18:8). Baptism comes after an expressed belief in Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:37). Therefore, we are baptized in response to what Christ has done for us. It is an external witness to those around us that there has been an internal, spiritual work done by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The death of our old (sinful) nature and the birth of our new nature in Christ are symbolized by our immersion under water and our being raised up (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). Behind this external baptism lies the true baptism - that of the shed blood of Jesus Christ; as well as the inward operation of the Holy Spirit, moving us to live, move, and act in faith.
Baptism does not save us. It does not add to what Christ has done. In our desire to be obedient to what the Lord commands us to do, we need to have an understanding of what his commands entail. We need to know the scriptural and spiritual basis for baptism. Without our knowledge and understanding, water baptism would be a meaningless ritual. It does not complete or compete with His atoning work on the cross. Those who say that if you are not baptized you are not saved, have missed the point of the cross of Jesus Christ and its atoning power. As our Lord was hanging upon the cross between the two thieves, He said to the one, "Today, you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). That thief would die before he had an opportunity to be baptized; but it was his faith in Christ that saved him (Luke 23:40-43).
Jesus was baptized by immersion. As it says in Matthew 3:16 "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water." Throughout the New Testament, we see in the life of Christ, and the examples left to us by the apostles, that baptism is the full act of immersion. In the Greek, to "baptize" means to "cover wholly with a fluid, to dip or to fully immerse". Nowhere in the New Testament do we find "aspersion" which is the act of pouring water upon the head, or the sprinkling of the head or face. Baptism is a joyous occasion for the believer. It is an opportunity to declare to the world that we have been redeemed and set free by the blood of the Lamb - our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are a new creation in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17) - reckoned dead to sin, "but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:11). Rejoice!
It is our desire here at Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg that your lives would be blessed. We are looking forward to having you join us as we fulfill God's Word in your lives. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask one of the pastors to explain the meaning of being baptized in more detail. May our Lord continue to fill you with His love and knowledge as you walk with Him.
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For couples desiring to have their marriage performed at Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg or by a pastoral staff member of Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg, the following guidelines have been established:
Step 1 - The Wedding Application - The first step is submitting the wedding application to Pam Mirra in the Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg office. You may also access and print our wedding application directly from our website. The application provides important information to assist the pastoral staff in future pre-marital counseling.
We will do everything possible to accommodate your wishes. We cannot guarantee, though, that the church facility will be available at the time and date you request, nor can we promise that the pastor you wish to perform the ceremony will be available. Please be aware that due to his schedule, Pastor Danny Hodges is not currently available to perform marriage ceremonies. For this reason, ten associate pastors are also available to serve you.
Step 2 - Four-Month Notice - The wedding application, completed in full, should be submitted to the church office at least four months prior to the intended wedding date for scheduling of the ceremony on the church calendar. When the application is submitted, the wedding date can be reserved on the church calendar, however, finalization of that date can only be done after your pre-marital counseling sessions with the pastor who will perform your ceremony (see Step 5).
Step 3 - Initial Interview - Upon receipt of the application, a member of the Calvary Chapel staff will contact you to set up the initial interview.
Step 4 - Pre-Marital Class - We will now offer our "Preparing for Marriage" Class three times throughout the year. The class is a pre-requisite for couples wishing to be married by a Calvary Chapel pastor. The purpose of this class is for the establishment of a firm foundation on which the marriage relationship should be built. All five sessions of the "Preparing for Marriage" Course must be completed prior to the wedding. For details on the next class offered, contact the office.
Step 5 - Completion of Pre-Marital Counseling - At least two pre-marital counseling sessions must be completed with the Calvary Chapel pastor who will perform the wedding ceremony. At the time of the pre-marital counseling sessions, the wedding date will be finalized on the church calendar. We ask you to please make every effort to allow for the scheduling of these appointments during Calvary Chapel office hours.
Wedding fees begin at $300 and include church rental, sound technician, maintenance and support staff. It is also customary to pay the Pastor who performs your wedding; we suggest $125-$150. Other fees will be added according to the specific needs of your wedding. For more information on additional fees please call the church office or download the wedding application.
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