On November 24 it will be our privilege to gather for worship and witness followers of Jesus stepping into the waters of baptism.

Why practice baptism?  That’s easy:  Jesus told us to do so.  “Go and make disciples among all people groups, baptizing them…” in God’s name (Matthew 28:19).  We’re under orders—as church leaders, to provide baptism opportunities; and as Christ-followers, to give a public demonstration of our faith in Jesus by being baptized.  This commission is in force “until the end of the age” (28:20).

Let’s step back:  the biblical sequence is that, when people come to faith in Jesus (i.e., become disciples), baptism follows.  “Repent and be baptized…” (Acts 2:38; see also 8:12; 16:14-15, 31-33; 18:8; 19:4-5).  In other words, baptism is for believers.  Repentance is the flip-side of faith:  we turn away from self-serving sin and turn to Jesus in humble faith.  Baptism is an outward symbol of an inner devotion to Christ; yes, we’re saved by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), but true faith is never alone—it’s a heart dynamic that arouses us to obey the Lord outwardly (James 2:14-26; Galatians 5:6).  And being baptized is a vital way of doing just that—of obeying Jesus and demonstrating our glad acceptance of his lordship over our lives.  Baptism is a kind of dying and rising with Jesus (Romans 6:3-4); in this act we’re “saying” we rejoice in all that God accomplished for our salvation in the death of his Son, and that we are trusting in him for the hope of resurrection life.

So, have you stepped into the water grave yet?  If you’ve put your heart’s trust in Christ but haven’t been baptized by immersion, let this be the time. After all, Jesus doesn’t command us to practice baptism just so we can “dialogue” over whether we’d like to do it or not!

I’d encourage any believers (“older” children, teens, adults) who haven’t been baptized since coming to faith in Jesus to take a stand through this public plunge:  show the world that you belong to Jesus, accept his lordship over your life, and mean business about leading a life of grateful dependence on God’s grace.  The next step is:  sign up in the lobby for a baptism class at 10:00 a.m. on Nov. 10 or 17.  And if you have any questions, do not hesitate to speak with me.