Why Get Baptised?
So have you wondered about baptism? Do you have questions?
Matt 3:13-17 & Acts 2:37-41
If we have asked for forgiveness of sin and place our lives in God’s hands, then we as believers can also be baptised.
I came to faith as a teenager but my family were not attending a church. So, for the first few years, my Christian faith was encouraged through the regular Christian fellowship at high school (ISCF group) and occasional church attendance with friends. It was not until I was able to get regular lifts and then driving myself, did I find a church family to become a part of—Aspley Uniting Church. I had been Christened as a baby in a Anglican church, so I went through confirmation classes in the Uniting church which took me through gospel foundations and being part of a church. Over the years, Kathryn and I were involved in Uniting churches until we moved back to Brisbane and started attending North Pine Baptist in 1994. It was there that we were asked about being baptised, which began a journey for both of us in seeking to understand what the Bible says about baptism. So, both in our early thirties with three young children, we took the step of believer's baptism and were baptised at North Pine Baptist Church. Many of you would have different stories of your journey of faith and baptism.
So why should I get baptised? Firstly, Jesus saw it as important.
'Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me? “Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptised, 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.”
(Matt 3:13-17 NIV)
It fulfilled God’s plan of obedience and public declaration of faith. When it happened, God was pleased and all heard God’s voice declare his love for his Son. Jesus was sinless and faithfully following his Father’s plan. For us, if we have asked for forgiveness of sin and place our lives in God’s hands, then we as believers can also be baptised. Secondly, this was Jesus’ commission to us in making disciples.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt 28:19-20a NIV)
This pattern of becoming a disciple and being baptised was the process of the early church in scripture and continues today. For us as Baptists, this is a strong part of our heritage of believer baptism. So have you wondered about baptism? Do you have questions? Please have a chat to myself, Pastor Ben or Pastor Andy.
God bless.
Pastor Stephen
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