Friday, October 27, 2023

Next step

“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”  Acts 10:47

I have always heard that baptism was the first step of obedience after entering into a personal relationship with the Father through the blood sacrifice of Jesus.  Baptism was the first thing the new Christians did as soon as they believed and received salvation in the New Testament.  Even Jesus before He started His ministry here in the world, was baptized by John the Baptist.

Baptism in the New Testament church was an act of a person’s own will when they were old enough to decide that they wanted to follow Jesus.  It was not something that was ever done in the scripture to a baby before the child ever knew what they were doing.  Baptism is an outward expression of your internal faith, and it tells the people around you that you have made the decision in your life to be a person of faith and that you are living your life according to the word of God through a relationship with the everlasting Father of heaven.

My personal experience with baptism was as a young child of seven years old, my Father baptized me after my mother led me to the Lord at the young age of five.  When I became an adult and lived many years of my life following the selfishness of my own desires, I struggled with knowing if I was actually saved when I was baptized at seven years old.  At that age, it was not a conscience decision I made to walk in the way of the Lord Jesus.  It was something I was told to do because it was time.  Through the years I debated if I was actually being intentionally obedient or even born again at the time of my baptism, the Lord reminded me of the time I sat at the table with my mother as she explained salvation to me, and I invited Him into my life.  Yet, I still questioned if it was for real.  Then one day, we took a trip to the holy land, and I had the opportunity to be baptized in the river Jordan.  I was so excited that I could be immersed in the very water that Jesus once was.  When that day came, I remembered after I was raised up out of the water sensing His Spirit on the inside of my heart saying: “You can stop having that debate any longer.”  I now had confirmation that I had truly taken the next step and was ready to enter into His call for my life.

In today’s reading, after Peter had preached to Cornelius and those with him, they were all saved, filled with the holy Spirit and then Peter immediately took them to water and commanded each of to them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  There was no waiting period and there was no special class they all had to take.  It was the next step then and it is the next step now.

Today I want to encourage you that if you have never been water baptized since you received Jesus into your life and heart, plan on doing it today.  Get with your pastor or group leader and get on the schedule to take this next step of obedience.  Show the world around you that you are serious about following the plan and path God has for your life and take the first step now of water baptism.  If you were baptized as an infant or young age, there is nothing wrong with that, it just wasn’t something you decided on your own.  You did get wet, but that is not what baptism is about.  Take the plunge for real and make that decision as an adult that you are going to take the first step of obedience to Him through this public demonstration of your commitment of faith in Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 10:44-48

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 

45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 

46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 

47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.