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We recently
had a great baptising service in the church.
Like many
others churches our pulpit has a central position at the front, emphasising
the prominence we believe should be given to
God’s proclaimed Word.
In front of
the pulpit is the baptismal pool, covered by a platform.
The pool is only opened when we are to baptise one or more Christian
believers. The candidates for baptism will have reached a point in life where
they have received Jesus as their personal Saviour. Now they want to follow
His example and obey His instruction to be baptised.
During the service candidates testifies of how they came to know
their need of salvation from sin, how they asked God for forgiveness in Jesus
name and how Jesus came into their life. Each makes a brief statement of
faith
and then goes down into the pool where the minister and a deacon lowers them
completely beneath the water and raises them again
– and the church bursts into song.
Paul
asks, don’t you know that
Romans 63
...all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death
...and he goes on
Romans 64
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death
in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead...we too may live a new
life.
Baptism is a symbol of obedience to Jesus,
the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual transaction
already taken place. For the Christian, going under the water symbolises
death to sin and burial of the past; coming up out of the water shows the
Christian’s resurrection to new life in Jesus Christ.
Around the world,
baptisms are celebrated
in all but freezing rivers and equatorial streams, at the seaside and in
swimming pools, as well as church pools; just about anywhere it’s convenient.
For the person being baptised it is a wonderful, thrilling experience – a
moment to be cherished – even people who fear going underwater testify to
their joy at being baptised. Most of us remember the occasion for the rest of
our lives.
But unless the person being baptised has been
born again
the activity is meaningless. Baptism itself does nothing; it
cannot change an unchanged individual or give a person special blessing.
The significance of baptism lies entirely in already having recognised
your need of salvation from sin, having asked God’s forgiveness
and invited the Lord Jesus into your life.
That’s The Beginning Of Real Life!
Do contact us if you want to talk more about this |