Baptism

Throughout the Bible, baptism by immersion has been the distinctive mark of people who have made a personal decision to follow Jesus. It was the mark of a life filled with the Holy Spirit..it was often after being baptized that people received the Holy Spirit who Jesus promised to give as our guide and source of strength and holy power…

Over time, baptism has come to take on another meaning in our culture…something you do for infants. That’s fine, but it is important for us to make a distinction between the two. Infant baptism, or dedication, is a commitment on the part of the parents and church to raise the child in such a way that someday they will make a choice for themselves to follow Christ. I am thankful for the commitment my parents made when I was an infant. The foundation they gave me led me to accept Jesus’ sacrifice on my own. Over time I came to realize that is was important for ME to declare that I was a follower of Christ through baptism later…

Today is the day for you! Exciting day for us…you have the opportunity today to declare that you are a follower of Jesus Christ…

Baptism today will serve several purposes in your life….

1) Your opportunity to say be satisfied that you have been obedient to Jesus. Matt 28…baptized in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

2) Your opportunity to join millions of other Christians in publicly declaring that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. You have accepted His gift of forgiveness for anything you’ve done wrong against you. You want to give your life to God and do your best to please Him.

3) Through baptism in water you will experience a spiritual re-birth as you symbolically share in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You die to your old self as you are submerged and raise to a new, holy and cleansed life in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as you are raised back out!

Baptism is a call to a new life! Col 3:1-4 says, “Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Gal 2:20

4) It will serve as a major milestone in your spiritual journey. This day will be a day for you to remember and to share with others who come alongside you in life. It will be a testimony to the work God has done in your life.

This is not something to take lightly. Not something to do just because your friends are doing it. If you are not ready to take this step today…that is fine. But be sure to watch what happens in the live of those who do! Whether you’ve been living your life for him for years already, or you are just starting out today, God will take your life in Him to a whole new level today when you take this step for Him!

Bring out what it is. Going under water …die Talk about rebirth

Spirit is new, fresh & clean…..Spirit living within it you, Live you life in the Spirit (Romans) Sin loving nature now dead…Story of Indian talking to grandson about two wolves living in me….one love/patience one full of Anger/greed/etc. grandson asks, “But gransfather, which one wins?” One I feed…

When die to old self…rise to new life…feed new life…

Walk through some steps.

Baptism is for those who believe…walk through steps of leading someone to Christ (Cornelius story)

What’s to stop me? Let’s go down to the River…