More Than Just Water
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” —Matthew 3:16–17 (NIV)
There I stood, a ten-year-old girl, ready to be baptized in a pool of water by my father. I had accepted Jesus into my heart at church camp a few weeks earlier, and now I was ready to be baptized.
“Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin and rose three days later? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God?”
I answered yes to each question my father asked. “Then I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” he said, as I reached for my nose and pinched it tightly. My father’s gentle voice faded into the background as he gently lowered me back into the warm, chlorinated water. In that moment, a special transaction took place between God and me. I was no longer just a part of this world, but a child of God—chosen, forgiven, loved, and redeemed. I was sealed with His promise—forever. No longer a slave to sin, but a sinner saved by grace and renamed a saint in Jesus Christ.
Thousands of years ago, Jesus was also baptized, leaving us an example to follow. As Jesus was about to ascend to Heaven, He instructed us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
What a great and exciting responsibility we have been given!
Baptism is more than being immersed in water; it serves as an outward sign of an inward change. It symbolizes our death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, we died with Him and were buried with Him. On the third day, when Jesus rose from the grave, we also rose to new life with Him. Baptism is how we show others that we have placed our faith in Jesus and how we become part of the family of faith.
Baptism signifies our rebirth and adoption by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. We will never be alone; we share in the unity of being part of Christ's body, which encourages, teaches, and supports us.
Baptism also symbolizes our new identity in Christ. We are no longer souls of this world, but fellow citizens of the family of faith—renamed saints and members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). We are called chosen, loved, accepted, seen, holy, redeemed, and forgiven.
How awesome is it that we gain a new identity when we accept Jesus into our hearts?
Have you accepted Jesus into your heart? If not, and you would like to, I encourage you to pray this simple prayer:
Dear Father, I need you. I invite you into my heart today. I believe that Jesus died for me on the cross and rose again to bring me new life and salvation. Today, I place my faith in Jesus and invite you into my heart. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God! I encourage you to pray, read the Bible to learn more about Jesus, attend a Bible-preaching church, connect with other believers, and get baptized.
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