If you are a Christ-follower do you remember your baptism? What was it like? Were you a child, student, young adult? How did you feel about it? Does it evoke passionate memories of a hungering for God? Do you remember what led to your decision to be baptized? Who was at your baptism? Was it in a church, a lake, or swimming pool?Believers baptism is an act of obedience. It's roots in the New Testament church run deep. Our leader, Jesus, not only commanded it, but modeled it when He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan. Remember the story?
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
Baptism is our declaration to the world that we have been changed by Jesus Christ. Through baptism we publicly profess our love and devotion to Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, we will baptize several new Christ-followers at Lake Hartwell. It will be a time of great joy for our church family. As we baptize, those gathered will be asked to remember their own baptism and recall its significance in their life. They will be encouraged to pursue Christ with the passion of those first steps of faith. They will be asked to reflect on how much they've grown in their relationship with Christ since their baptism. Baptism is the beginning of our spiritual formation in Christ.
2 comments:
I was baptized when I was 2 years old. And I don't remember what it was like. Well, that's the Catholic tradition. Infant baptism is widely practiced.
There is a big difference between Believers Baptism and Infant Baptism. In our faith community we do not practice infant baptism, but I could see where it would be difficult to connect to a memory of something done "for/to" you as opposed to something you make a conscious decision to pursue.
Post a Comment