Today is the day that we are going to baptize quite a few believers! I’m excited about it folks! I know that God is working in the lives and hearts of these people and their desire is to show the world that they have changed! That’s what baptism represents really. Paul writes to us in Romans 6:3 & 4, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we to may have a new life.” What this is telling us is that baptism symbolizes our death, burial and resurrection just like Christ’s. And then we need to live a life that reflects that we are saved and striving to live as He wants us to live!
Some people think that baptism is a necessity for salvation. And while it is a commandment from Christ, it is not necessary for us to be baptized to get into Heaven. All that is necessary to make Heaven our home is the Blood of Jesus Christ. He shed His blood and died that we may have eternal life and as Paul writes in Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in you heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” So that all it takes, confessing and believing. Paul never says anything in this passage about baptism and if it were necessary to be baptized for salvation Paul would have told us about it.
Did you notice that Paul says we are buried like Him in baptism and we rise again to a new life? So that means we are laid down in the water and raised again in new life! So after we are baptized we then strive to live a new life. We will still trip and stumble but we know we have the forgiveness of sin that Jesus promised us. How wonderful is that? Jesus died for us so we can be saved, He rose again for us so we can have newness of life and He forgives us when we don’t walk as we should love. He has done all of the work and we just reap the blessings! How fantastic is that?
So if you know Christ as your personal Savior but have never followed Him in baptism, it’s not too late! Just let me know and we can get it done! It would be such a blessing to me to do that!
It is such a privilege to serve here at Canelo Cowboy Church! I thank my God daily for the call He placed on me and all the wonderful folks in our lives! Pray for me and I’ll pray for you! Naomi and I love you all.