A church in China’s southeastern coastal Guangdong Province hosted a baptism and communion service last Sunday.
Besides the nineteen followers of Jesus baptized at Pinghu Church in Shenzhen on November 20, individuals unable to move freely received baptism at home.
During the second Sunday service, first-time seekers and Christians were invited to the altar to introduce themselves. The congregation offered prayers for them.
Rev. Huang Chuxian of the congregation gave a sermon entitled "Reason of Baptism”. She preached that Jesus ordained baptism as a confession of faith. Baptism was a sign to show that believers had received God's grace and to demonstrate His favor. As a sacrament of the church, baptism declared to the world and the devil that Christians were no longer children of darkness, but of light.
Huang also pointed out common misconceptions about baptism. She argued against beliefs that a person must be baptized to be saved or that one didn't need baptism if one had a relationship with Jesus. She also argued that individuals didn't need to wait until they were spiritually mature before baptism. Huang emphasized that people were saved through faith in Jesus Christ - not through baptism. She declared that seekers needed to be baptized as soon as possible so as not to leave room for the devil and to declare that they belonged to Christ. She concluded that people could be baptized if they truly believed, repented, and followed Jesus.
Before the communion service, the pastor led the congregation in singing the refrain "Whiter Than Snow" after baptizing each catechumen. Each one received a baptism certificate and a Bible.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
11月20日，深圳基督教平湖堂第二场主日崇拜中，举办了洗礼圣餐礼两大圣礼。当天有19位信徒参加圣洗礼，还有几位行动不便的信徒，教牧同工们已提前一天去到信徒家中为其施洗。
礼拜开始，主礼人带领会众一起献唱《今到主殿歌》，随后由诗班献诗《信靠耶稣真是甜美》。
献诗结束后第一次来教堂的慕道友和弟兄姐妹受邀上前，进行简单的自我介绍，好几位慕道友在分享中感动落泪，该堂牧者黄楚贤牧师为这些新来的朋友献上祝福祷告
接着，黄牧师以《为什么一定要洗礼？》为题进行正道。黄牧师从“洗礼是耶稣亲自设立的”“洗礼是我们信仰的告白”两个方面展开分享。指出圣礼是神所赐的一个恩典的记号，证实我们领受了神的恩典，且显明了神的恩典；连耶稣都受了洗，为要给我们做榜样。因此洗礼就是在世人面前承认我们加入基督，向世界和魔鬼宣告我们不再是黑暗之子，乃是光明之子了。
随后，黄牧师也指出了“人要受洗后才能得救？”“信了就可以不用接受洗礼？”“灵命好一点再去洗礼？”三个常见的对洗礼错误的领会。强调人得救是因信靠耶稣基督，并非受洗后才能得救；而信主后要尽快受洗，是为了不给魔鬼留地步，宣告我们已经属于基督；只要是真心相信，真心悔改，真心跟随，就可以受洗。
正道结束，黄牧师依次给19位信徒施洗，每结束一人，牧师就带领会中一同献唱《白超乎雪歌》副歌：“白超乎雪，洁白超乎雪，求将他洗净，使他白超乎雪。”后由堂委给受洗者颁发受洗证并送上一本圣经。随后会众一起领受圣餐。
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/65427
深圳基督教平湖堂举行洗礼 19位慕道友受洗归主
A church in China’s southeastern coastal Guangdong Province hosted a baptism and communion service last Sunday.
Besides the nineteen followers of Jesus baptized at Pinghu Church in Shenzhen on November 20, individuals unable to move freely received baptism at home.
During the second Sunday service, first-time seekers and Christians were invited to the altar to introduce themselves. The congregation offered prayers for them.
Rev. Huang Chuxian of the congregation gave a sermon entitled "Reason of Baptism”. She preached that Jesus ordained baptism as a confession of faith. Baptism was a sign to show that believers had received God's grace and to demonstrate His favor. As a sacrament of the church, baptism declared to the world and the devil that Christians were no longer children of darkness, but of light.
Huang also pointed out common misconceptions about baptism. She argued against beliefs that a person must be baptized to be saved or that one didn't need baptism if one had a relationship with Jesus. She also argued that individuals didn't need to wait until they were spiritually mature before baptism. Huang emphasized that people were saved through faith in Jesus Christ - not through baptism. She declared that seekers needed to be baptized as soon as possible so as not to leave room for the devil and to declare that they belonged to Christ. She concluded that people could be baptized if they truly believed, repented, and followed Jesus.
Before the communion service, the pastor led the congregation in singing the refrain "Whiter Than Snow" after baptizing each catechumen. Each one received a baptism certificate and a Bible.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Shenzhen Church Baptizes 19 People
