Let's Celebrate
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16
One of my favorite Sundays is less than two weeks away. It is Baptism Sunday. Growing up in church, baptisms were often a small part of the service. They were either pushed to the very beginning or left to the very end. Over the years, as a pastor, I have questioned why that seems to be the normal practice. If you have ever been to our Baptism Sundays, you know that is not the case. We spend the majority of our service hearing testimonies, cheering, and dunking. We really celebrate baptisms, and here's why.
Baptism is a sign that someone has heard and responded to the gospel in faith. They know that they have sinned and because of their sin they deserve wrath from God, but they also have put their trust in Jesus, who they are confident has taken that punishment for them. The Bible calls this the new birth or being born again when we put our faith in Jesus.
We celebrate baptisms because it is a sign that this person, through faith in Jesus, is a Christian. This means that they are part of God’s family and will inherit the kingdom of God with all other believers. Simply put, they are family with us through faith in Jesus.
We celebrate baptisms also because it is a joyful step in obedience to Jesus. When one puts their trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, Jesus tells us that they should be baptized. To follow Jesus means to obey Jesus, and baptism is an act of obedience that expresses faith. This is why we call it a believer’s baptism. In fact, everywhere in the Bible where we see baptism, it is in response to the gospel. Our baptism service is one where those being baptized share how Jesus saved them and what it means to follow Jesus. I often say that these individuals share the gospel better than I could in a sermon because they are living proof that Jesus saves.
Baptism does not save you. It is just tap water. It is faith in Jesus that saves. However, baptism is an outward way of expressing an inward change of heart that Jesus has saved you. Maybe you are considering baptism and want to know more. Maybe you have put your faith in Jesus some time ago, but have not been obedient to Jesus through baptism. Maybe you are nervous about sharing. Maybe you want to know more about trusting in Jesus. I would love to talk with you. And if you have put your faith in Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you through baptism.
One of my favorite Sundays is less than two weeks away. It is Baptism Sunday. Growing up in church, baptisms were often a small part of the service. They were either pushed to the very beginning or left to the very end. Over the years, as a pastor, I have questioned why that seems to be the normal practice. If you have ever been to our Baptism Sundays, you know that is not the case. We spend the majority of our service hearing testimonies, cheering, and dunking. We really celebrate baptisms, and here's why.
Baptism is a sign that someone has heard and responded to the gospel in faith. They know that they have sinned and because of their sin they deserve wrath from God, but they also have put their trust in Jesus, who they are confident has taken that punishment for them. The Bible calls this the new birth or being born again when we put our faith in Jesus.
We celebrate baptisms because it is a sign that this person, through faith in Jesus, is a Christian. This means that they are part of God’s family and will inherit the kingdom of God with all other believers. Simply put, they are family with us through faith in Jesus.
We celebrate baptisms also because it is a joyful step in obedience to Jesus. When one puts their trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, Jesus tells us that they should be baptized. To follow Jesus means to obey Jesus, and baptism is an act of obedience that expresses faith. This is why we call it a believer’s baptism. In fact, everywhere in the Bible where we see baptism, it is in response to the gospel. Our baptism service is one where those being baptized share how Jesus saved them and what it means to follow Jesus. I often say that these individuals share the gospel better than I could in a sermon because they are living proof that Jesus saves.
Baptism does not save you. It is just tap water. It is faith in Jesus that saves. However, baptism is an outward way of expressing an inward change of heart that Jesus has saved you. Maybe you are considering baptism and want to know more. Maybe you have put your faith in Jesus some time ago, but have not been obedient to Jesus through baptism. Maybe you are nervous about sharing. Maybe you want to know more about trusting in Jesus. I would love to talk with you. And if you have put your faith in Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you through baptism.
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