Baptism
Jesus was baptized. So was the Apostle Paul. So were 3000 people right after the first sermon preached in Acts 2. So are people today.
In Acts 2 after preaching that first sermon the crowd asked the Apostle Peter, after being convicted in their hearts that Jesus was the risen Savior and Lord, – what must we do? The answer as stated in Acts 2:38 was simple – repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and you will be forgiven of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. They were told to do a simple act of faithful obedience – repent or change your life and be baptized – and God would forgive your sin and give you the gift of His Spirit.
In Romans 6, baptism is shown as our connection to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In our baptism we are buried or die to our sin, and coming out of the water we are raised to live a new life. Jesus died on the cross, was buried in a tomb and raised from death to life. Our baptism is our connection to the most important event in human history – Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Baptism as practiced by the early church was by complete immersion in water – which allows beautifully the symbolic picture of our death, burial and resurrection with Christ.
Over and over in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament we see references to baptism. It is our connection to Jesus, God’s forgiveness and us becoming the dwelling place of God’s Spirit. Baptism is also the turning point in our life. In Romans 6, Paul is reminding the Christians of his day that their life changed the moment they were baptized and the way they saw and lived in this world was to change also.
Baptism – your baptism – is a celebration of your new life in Christ. It is a celebration of the removal of all your past sins and a new beginning. It is the point where we are connected with Christ in the death, burial and resurrection, but also connected with God in the gift of His Spirit in our life. Baptism can be done at an assembly such as a Sunday when Christians are gathered or done in a private setting with just two or three present. Those early followers of Jesus, as they came to faith, did not wait, but chose to be baptized as soon as possible – often acting immediately.
If you are a Christian then remember your baptism as the moment you were clothed in Christ and your life really started all over. And if you have never accepted Jesus by being baptized then maybe it is time for a celebration in your life! Want to know more or schedule a time to be baptized then call our church office at 618-397-1659 or email joe@fairviewheightschurch.org.