Written by Beliza Patrícia, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in João Pessoa, Brazil.
It is said that the first step is the most important one on the journey. What we do before waking up says a lot about our day. We dress up fancy for a first date because we know the impact that moment will have in our relationship. The first step itself does not determine the whole journey, but it’s a fact that it is important and special.
That’s also what happens in the Christian life, whether you were born in a christian household and were exposed to the gospel at a young age or you only learned about the path to salvation when you were already an adult. The fact is, everybody faces the choice of being a christian, a disciple of Christ. That doesn’t happen as if from magic, we all have habits and temptations that pull us closer and further away from God. Overcoming those is not an easy task and asks for though choices from us, big or small. But this journey starts with baptism.
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:37-38)
After listening to Peter’s sermon during Pentecosts, the Jews understood what they had done. They recognized they needed to do something, change their attitude. Peter’s guidelines were clear, they needed to repent and be baptized. That moment, where three thousand people are baptized is considered the beginning of the church. If we read the following verses we can see that some people changed their way of living. Meaning, baptism was not just a ceremony, baptism marked the beginning of a new life. Sin no longer had power over those people, over their thoughts and actions. They were free! Free to become more and more like Jesus.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
When I speak with people getting closer to the Church their opinion is most usually that baptism is only a symbol, not something that important, what really matters is doing the will of God daily. I would like to shed some light on that idea through scripture:
After resurrection, Jesus told his disciples:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit [...] (Mateus 28:19)
Jesus sent his apostles to every nation to make disciples, His followers, and the way to make disciples was clear, through baptism.
I recognize there’s willingness to want to do God’s will, but the truth is: we can’t do it alone. The Bible shows us that we can’t be saved by anything we do. Sin parts us from God and it’s consequence is spiritual death, have our spirit far away from our Creator. Only through Christ, who sacrificed for us even though he had no sin, we can be saved. And the way to connect to Christ is through baptism.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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.
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. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (Romanos 6:3-8)
Baptism doesn’t need a specific day, doesn’t need to be done in group, doesn’t need to be on a specific place (see Acts 8:36-38). But it does need a heart that believes Jesus is the son of God. That in that moment when we accept Jesus paid the debt for our sins we receive the Holy Spirit of God in us and that at that moment we’re starting a new life. It is through faith (in Jesus Christ) and not because of our own actions that we are saved.
If you’ve already made the decision to start a pact with God and be baptized for forgiveness of your sins receiving the Holy Spirit, I want to invite you to remember that day. Remember all the bible studies that led you to that decision, the brothers and sisters in Christ that were with you on that day…and may that memory bring you strength and encouragement! You are a new creature! Keep following the goal! If you haven’t made that decision yet, I want to invite you to study what the bible says about who Jesus is and who you are, and you’ll be ready to start your journey with Christ.
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