Experience God through Baptism!!
A few times each year my church, Calvary Chapel Vero Beach, hosts a beach baptism- as a matter of fact we have one coming up this Saturday, 10AM at Jaycee Park. Please come join us!
Baptism is the outward sign or a public declaration you have said “yes” to Jesus and you have decided to now live for Him. Baptism is an act of obedience which identifies the person being baptized with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This act is extremely important as we see in John 3:5- Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Romans 6:3-5 explains “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins… Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:38-41. So we have many scriptures telling us to be baptized in water and also explain the importance of being baptized.
I was baptized when I first said “yes!” to Jesus and made a decision to follow Him at First Baptist Church Atlanta in 1996. However, I backslid into my old ways several times during my life and I got baptized each time I came back to Jesus! I don’t think that was necessary but I was able to publicly deny my former lifestyle and show my re-committal of my life to Jesus to my friends and family.
How does baptism work?? Most churches baptize in a small pool inside the church somewhere, maybe behind the pulpit or many churches use lakes or a pool or the ocean. By going down under the water the believer associates themselves with Jesus’ death, and rising up, out of the water shows the believers hope of resurrection. It’s a symbolic reenactment of how Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of God through the Holy Spirit, and the believer from that point on decides to live a new life walking in the love and life of Jesus while waiting for our resurrection with Him!
Baby baptism is a commitment of the parents to the church and the church to each other to help the family raise the child in Christ. But it does not represent true baptism of one’s spiritual re-birth when they make an intentional decision to live for and follow Jesus.
If you have not made a decisive commitment to follow Jesus and grow in the love and grace of Christ and walk in His Word please do it today. Then ask your church about being baptized or come to Calvary Chapel Vero Beach! Join us on Saturday at Jaycee Park, Vero Beach, FL, 10AM for the baptism celebration of new lives in Christ!
