Ok, not much mystery here with such a picture leading up the post, but I hope you will indulge me for just a moment or two…
Now that my family and I have spent a fun week at Disneyworld (Hey, you’re never too old to be a kid for a few days!) I can sort of understand why every Super bowl MVP, every World series team, every Olympic gold medalist and, well, every winner at anything significant for close to a decade answered the following question the same way…
“Hey Tom Brady, now that you’ve won another Superbowl, what are you going to do next?”
Answer: “I’m going to Disneyworld!”
We all knew the drill. They don’t seem to do this as much as they used to. Perhaps people have “Disney Fatigue”—a new condition I diagnosed myself with after the first couple days of too many people and not enough magic.
But I digress. My point is just that the Disney response got to be pretty predictable, and…
Pretty meaningless.
Now don’t label me a Mickey hater! I’m just keeping it real. And the reality of all this is that it really is not life or death whether or not we celebrate our greatest victories in life with an expensive trip to Disney. However, there’s one celebration in life that really should be followed up on the same way every time.
I’m talking about salvation.
Were you one of the 124 people who made a decision for Christ this past Easter weekend at GCC? If so, this is a very critical time in your brand new life in Christ! Also, it’s just the very beginning of an eternal journey with the Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible often compares brand new believers to brand new humans—or a newborn babe. Far from being condescending, it’s simply true that almost everything for the newly saved individual is, brand new. Much of what it means to be a part of the family of the living God will be learned over a lifetime of walking with the Savior. The theological term for this process is called, sanctification. That’s just a ten cent word for the process of “becoming more like Christ.” And, like learning to walk and talk for an infant, their are some foundational things new Christians need to learn well in order to start off strong and run the race well all the way to that final day when we will all see Jesus face to face.
And the first step is not one you want to ignore.
“So what is it, Pastor Rob? Tell us already! You’re killing me!”
Ok, here it is.
You need to identify yourself and proclaim your new life in Christ through baptism.
“What?! You want me to go to church in dry clothes just so I can get in some sort of holy dunking booth? I don’t think so.”
Hold on. It’s not about getting wet for Jesus. It’s abut obedience and it’s what baptism symbolizes that counts. And this is where a lot of people miss it…
Many people have at least some confusion regarding” baptism. The word “baptize” means to “immerse in water.” Baptism is the biblical way of publicly proclaiming your new faith in Christ and your commitment to follow Him. The action of being immersed in the water illustrates being buried with Christ. And when we come out of the water it pictures Christ’s resurrection. Being baptized is identifying yourself with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).
Now hear me on this next point. It’s crucial!.. .Baptism is not what saves you. Baptism does not wash away your sins. Baptism is simply a step of obedience, a public proclamation of your faith in Christ alone for salvation.
Jesus did all the hard work securing our salvation on the cross—bearing our sins even though He was sinless. We need only trust in Him for salvation and He is always faithful to save all those who come to Him in faith!
So, again…baptism doesn’t save you—but it is a pretty good indication that you really are saved!
If you are ready to be baptized, you should speak with a pastor at Grace about the next baptism celebration we will be having and do whatever it takes to be there and celebrate with the rest of the GCC family what the Lord has done in your heart!