Trine Immersion Baptism
True to our Brethren roots, we baptize new members by Trine Immersion, or 3 dips into the baptismal pool.
Baptism by Trine Immersion is a requirement for membership in The Mount Vernon Grace Brethren Church.
Additional details about baptism can be found in our Statement of Faith under Articles 1, 8 and 9.
You are also invited to read Pastor Justin's blog post entitled Regarding Baptism which covers the scriptural basis for baptism by Trine Immersion.
The Importance of Baptism
As an important step of obedience and identification, baptism is only available to existing believers.
Obedience: Just before He returned to The Father's right hand, Jesus' commanded that His disciples be baptized. We believe that only baptism by Trine Immersion fulfills Jesus' command.
Identification: Baptism identifies a Christian with God, each member of The Trinity, the believer's new pastor and a specific local church.
Church Membership: Baptism establishes the believer as a member of the church.
Supporting Scripture:
Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:37-42 & 1 Corinthians 10:1-2
A Description of Trine Immersion
Typically baptisms occur during our Sunday Morning Worship services. The process is detailed below.
Step 1: Before the congregation, the believer makes a public profession of faith and agrees to receive the pastor's doctrine.
Step 2: The believer enters the baptismal pool and kneels in the water.
Step 3: The pastor immerses the believer once in the name of The Father.
Step 4: The pastor immerses the believer again, this time in the name of The Son.
Step 5: Finally the pastor immerses the believer a third time in the name of The Holy Spirit.
Step 6: A prayer of blessing is offered for the new member.
Supporting Scripture:
Acts 2:41, Acts 8:36-37 & 1 Corinthians 10:1-2
The Symbolism of Trine Immersion
Part of the significance of baptism and specifically trine immersion is Who and what this act symbolizes.
The Water: This substance symbolizes that God Is One and that The Trinity is unified in one. Throughout The Scriptures water is also symbolic of cleansing, holiness and purity.
The Act of Immersion: Total immersion in a substance that symbolizes God relates to Jesus' command that His disciples "abide in Me, and I in you."
Immersion 1: This dip represents The individual being of God The Father and the believer's relationship with Him.
Immersion 2: This dip represents The individual being of The God-Man, Jesus Christ and the believer's relationship with Him.
Immersion 3: This dip represents The individual being of God The Holy Spirit and the believer's relationship with Him.
Supporting Scripture:
Matthew 3:17, John 15:4-5, Acts 19:1-7 & Hebrews 10:19-23