A new car, a new phone, a new job – we all like new things, don’t we? I know that my sons are always excited about their birthdays because they cannot wait to celebrate a new age and a new year!
LifePointe Church is getting ready to celebrate something new as well. But it’s so much more than a new car or new job. We are celebrating NEW LIFE! It is the celebration of people who have chosen Christ and have experienced their old life being swept away while their new life has begun. Baptism is the next exciting step on the journey to follow Jesus.
The idea of baptism might seem strange to you, and you may ask yourself, “Why should I get baptized?” When I was 11 years old, I was terrified when I was about to be immersed in front of my entire church. Despite my apprehension, I wondered, “Why should I get baptized?” Being drenched (for who-knows-how-long) by my pastor was not something I was eager about at all. Having been a problematic child, he could’ve held me under for a while! But, fortunately, that’s not something pastors ever do!
Despite my doubts, I knew I should get baptized. I just didn’t know why. Fortunately, I knew I would spend eternity with Jesus even if I didn’t get baptized. I had already made my decision to live for Him.
Why is baptism such a significant step for me? My understanding of baptism is similar to the process of getting married and putting on a wedding ring. A person is still married even if they lose their wedding ring. Even though the ring is not what makes someone a married person, they still wear it all the time. Why? Because they want the world to know they’ve committed to spending the rest of their lives with someone they love. The wedding ring represents a sacred commitment to faithfulness.
Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we’re not saved by good works, including baptism, but by Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Our faith should be personal, but not private. Baptism is about going public with your faith.
You might still be wondering why I should get baptized?
- Because Jesus was baptized. In Matthew 3:16, we learn that Jesus was baptized before He started His earthly ministry. If the Son of God pursued baptism, we should follow His example and become baptized as well.
- Because you’ve decided to follow Jesus and want people to know. You’ll never regret making the decision to follow Christ. When you make a life-changing decision like this, you want to share the new hope you’ve found in Jesus with everyone! You want to tell people you believe God is real and your Savior. Your faith should be personal but not private. Baptism is a public display of your faith.
- Because baptism is a powerful symbol of what Jesus did for us. We are reminded of what Jesus did for us when we were baptized. When we go into the water, we are reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His payment for our sins. However, when we emerge from the water, we are reminded that Jesus rose from the dead three days later! In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we learn that we are a new creation if we are in Christ. Baptism reminds us of this.
Getting baptized is important, but not because it saves you. The grace of God through faith in Jesus is what saves you, and getting baptized is how you tell people about the change that has already taken place inside of you.
Rather than asking, “Why should I be baptized?” we should focus on answering the Scripture’s question, “They came to water, and the Eunuch said, “Look! Water!” Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). The real question is, Why should you not be baptized?
If you’ve decided it’s time to take the next step in your faith journey and decide to get baptized, please let us know. The baptisms are happening at LifePointe Church on May 29th. It’s time to party! Make sure you bring your family and friends for the celebration.
