Baptism

Today we began a brand new Bible reading plan in TVM. We are reading through the new Testament between now and the end of this year. Today's reading was Matthew 1-3 and I want to highlight one area of the scripture we read today.

In Matthew 3:13 we find that Jesus goes to the Jordan river to be baptized. John baptizes Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes upon him then he is lead into the wilderness to be tempted. Baptism is a very important step in our journey of faith. If Jesus felt the need to be baptized then surely we should be baptized.

What is baptism all about?

Rom 6:3-6
3 Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. 6 Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. - NLT

Baptism is identifying with Christ. It’s saying I go under the water as this old sinful, foolish person, and rise out of the water made brand new through the cross and now I am associated with Christ. Baptism says that I'm not longer associated with the world or who I used to be, but my association and identity is found in Christ. It is a doing away with the old and bringing of the new. It's a doing away with the power of sin and walking with the power of Christ!

Baptism is a command of Christ and one each of us should follow. Many people get baptized when they are young and don't really understand what it means. If you've never been baptized before or did it when you were young and didn't understand what you were doing you need to get baptized. The next time you hear about a baptism get signed up!