Sacraments

The local church is given two sacraments to regularly perform. As Baptists, we affirm that these two sacraments are non-salvific, yet are commanded by The Lord Jesus Christ to be practiced by the church. These two are Baptism by Immersion, and The Lord's Supper.

Baptism

Baptism comes after salvation, and is the first step of obedience in following Christ. Jesus has commanded that all His disciples be water baptized following conversion, as a symbol of identification to Him, and to all that one belongs to Him, and is following Him. To be biblically baptized is to be fully immersed underwater symbolizing the death, and burial of Christ, and then raised up from the water symbolizing His resurrection from the dead. Baptism itself is an explanation of the very gospel of Jesus.

At Saginaw Family, we do not affirm sprinkling, or infant baptism as biblical forms of baptism.

The Lord's Supper

Like Baptism, The Lord's Supper does not save a person, but it does have very significant meaning. The Lord's Supper or "communion" as it is called, is a remembrance of the death, and burial of Jesus Christ. When we observe this meal together as a church we are reflecting on what our Savior has done for us. He died. The apostle Paul reminds us that when we do this we are proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes again. This is a very personal, yet very corporate thing.

Communion goes hand and hand with church discipline, and at Saginaw Family we desire one to be in covenant relationship with us as a body to observe this meal of fellowship with us.