Baptism is entrance into God’s visible church (local churches) for those who profess faith in Christ because it is a visible sign that points to our cleansing from sin and union with Christ in his death and resurrection. There is newness of life by the power of the Spirit as believers are marked as God’s very own. 

Baptism is administered only once by the washing of water, in the Triune name, by a minister of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 6:11; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 4:5). For adults who have embraced the good news of the Gospel and believed in the spiritual reality that baptism signifies, they shall be baptized after their profession of faith.
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This sign is also given to children who are born into Christian families. We see this practiced in the early church as baptism was administered to adults / heads of the households who professed faith in Christ and their children (Acts 16:15,33). In the New Testament, baptism has replaced circumcision as the visible sign that points to the same spiritual reality of being made spiritually alive and cleansed from our sin (Colossians 2:11-14). In the Old Testament, circumcision was applied to all males in the households of God. (Genesis 17:12), but in the New Testament, this sign is administered to both male and female children who are born into Christian families. 

Infant baptism brings both parents and children into the covenant with God as parents bind themselves to bring their children up to obey God’s law and worship with God’s people (Deuteronomy 6:4-25). It reminds the Christian parents of their spiritual responsibility to nurture and disciple their children in Gospel love and reality. And, it encourages covenant children that the same spiritual hope and promise are available to them by faith in Christ. 

The Lord’s Supper is a meal of grace that spiritually strengthens and nourishes believers through the elements of the bread and cup. This is a meal that proclaims the death of Christ as his body was broken and his blood of the new covenant poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. During this meal, Christ is present by his Spirit in the administration of the bread and cup as believers participate in faith. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

Membership at Grace Toronto Church means that you are committing to our family of believers as you participate in the life, ministry, and government of our church. There is a solemn promise to care for one another physically, emotionally, and spiritually as you pray for and encourage community members to grow toward the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Salvation is made possible only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8). Placing your faith into Jesus means to admit that you are a sinner who falls short of the standards of an infinitely holy God (Romans 3:23). You look to Jesus, the perfect and sinless Son of God, who died by taking on your sin so that you would receive the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). You confess that Jesus died and rose again for you and you commit your life to him by placing your faith and trust in him (Romans 10:9-10). And finally, you rest in the finished work of Christ for you by glorifying God and enjoying him (Romans 4:5).