What a great Sunday we had! As I was preaching on being "born again into a living hope" yesterday, it dawned on me that maybe this is the reason why Paul mentions baptism so much in his letters (see for example, Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 12:12; Gal. 3:27). I mentioned in my lesson that baptism is the beginning of our identity as God's peculiar people. When we are immersed in water, everything about us changes (from our desires, our dreams, our actions, to even how we treat our spouse). Often when Paul wanted to encourage a church to be more Christ-like, he would remind them of their baptism. To Paul, baptism was a powerful act that permanently changed the identity of who we are. We have acts like this in our society. Maybe a timely one right now is high school graduation. Often the luster of this event gets lost in the fact that there will be college for four more years, then possibly graduate school, etc. But what makes high school graduation so special is the fact that a young person is maturing. They have moved on from being a quirky teenager to a young adult. Have you ever noticed what someone says when a young adult starts acting a little juvenile? "Hey, we're not in high school anymore!" In other words, we have a different identity now. We've matured and so act like it. I think that is what Paul often would tell the Christians he wrote to. "Hey, you've been baptized; quit acting like you haven't been!"
What if we saw baptism less as simply an act where forgiveness is found (although certainly this is true) but more as a boundary marker that would set out a new kind of identity. When someone was not acting like they should spiritually, we could simply say, "Hey stop doing that; you've been baptized! Baptized people don't act like that."
My brother-in-law (who will be speaking in a couple of weeks on a Wednesday night) tells the story of a Middle Eastern man who wanted to become a Christian. Because he came from a Muslim background, the Christians wanted him to weigh the costs of his decision. So they told him, "We do not want you to become a Christian until you are ready to die." He thought about it and eventually decided to be immersed - his love of Christ was too great despite the risks. But what if we warned everyone preparing to be baptized in the same way. It would definitely cement in our minds the change in our identity that comes from being "born again" - the point Peter was trying to bring out in 1:3.
Application point for this week: Ask someone about their baptism/conversion story. Maybe start with a family member or close friend. Ask them about what they felt as they were immersed and how they feel now looking back on that event. If someone hears a good baptism story, I would love to hear it.
Have a blessed week. Live like the baptized people you are!
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6 years ago
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Don't know if this is a good story of not?? My dad was not a christian when he married my mom. She had been one all her life. It took about 10 yrs. before he came to the Lord. This was a very sore subject with them. My mom remembers that once or twice he forgot to pick her up from church, she walked home. (once in the snow) My mom would invite him all the time, until she gave up asking. The year he became a christian, he start going with her more often. Once on a week day, during a gospel meeting, he asked if he could drive her, and he did. He decided to stay and listen. Before he knew what we happening he was headed down front when the invitation was extended! He said that he didn't recall what the sermon was about, only that he knew at that moment he needed the Lord! For those of you who might have a non believer in your life, don't give up. God will work in His power and timing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melissa, for that story. It is a good one. What a wonderful example of steadfast faith your mother was! That is living out a passage a little bit later in 1 Peter where Peter encourages the women to win their husbands by their behavior (3:1).
ReplyDeleteI did not have the blessing of growing up in a christian household and did not really come to know the Lord until I was in college. My junior year in college I helped someone move in down the hall and she invited me to worship with her. Eventually she became my best friend and kept inviting me to worship time after time. After a couple of months she invited me to study the Bible with her. I am so very grateful for her friendship and for her love of the Lord. within a few weeks and after much discussion with my parents and elders of a denomination that I grew up in... I decided that I had found the real truth in His word. I longed to experience becoming a new creature and put my Lord on in baptism in October of 1974. It was the best decision I have ever made on my own! My parents thought that I joined a cult and it took a lot of studying and dedication to prove that there is "one faith, one Lord, and one baptism." Two weeks later I met Monty, a God fearing man full of integrity, joy, and love for the Lord. The rest as they say is history!
ReplyDeleteNote:We have been married over 34 years and needless to say it is another great decision I have made in my life. I am grateful for everyday we are able to serve him.
Another note: Since that time my sister, mother, and son have become christians as well.:)
The following was a comment sent to me by a friend(that I went to high school with)... after I posted my comment about putting on the Lord in baptism. Her comment states: "Truth always prevails. I also grew up in a denomination that was...well, empty. When I got into the word and realized that I needed more in my life than worldly things, my life changed for the better. My family was also worried that I had become involved in some "cult". They said that I was too religious. Every single problem that our world (or society) faces today, is due to a lack of christian morals. I will stop there. Great testimony, Linda"... by a high school friend of L. McNair
ReplyDeleteHere are two more comments that were added to my fb note post (in conjunction with my comment on baptism)"if I lived closer, we'd be close friends. Praise God we are united in our faith. Good words." (by a high friend...we have never talked of religion before)
ReplyDeleteYesterday at 9:46pm ·
"Yes, it would be nice to get together if distance were not an issue. And ladies...with all that is going on in our country these days, does the scripture not come alive that reads, "in the end times, right will be wrong and wrong will be right"? Please keep praying for this country. Stay safe and blessed." (by another high school friend...we have discussed religion prior to last week).
L.McNair
Wow, Linda! What a wonderful response you have recevied from sharing your testimony. Obviously, your baptism story connects and is powerful to others. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI thank you so much for the opportunity that this blog (and of course ,our Lord) has given me to profess my faith to some of my high school and former college friends. I copy some of the discussion from the blog and post it in a note on fb. The Lord takes over from there. One friend is attending a congregation I recommended in San Antonio. She had not been to worship in years. Another is studying and reading her Bible. Thank you, Steve for your service and for giving me the nudge to proclaim my faith.
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