Baptism

Unlocking the Blessings of Baptism

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 NKJV

When I became a Christian, I really didn’t know much. Since I had never read more than a few random Bible verses, my grasp of theology or understanding of redemption was sketchy at best. But I believed with all my heart and simply committed myself to Jesus, knowing that this meant the end of my old life and the beginning of something new. So, when someone came to me and said, “Okay so next you get baptized!” I was like, “Okay, great! Whatever Jesus wants!” Being baptized was not something I had ever really thought much about, little realizing that it was a deeply controversial topic for some. More recently baptism has made headlines in the news, with large numbers of young people at various college campuses around the country joyfully accepting Christ and eagerly receiving baptism. “They Want God: 8,000 students.” Lost in all the commotion over the exact moment or means of our salvation is the blessing that Jesus has reserved for us in the ordinance of water baptism.


Today’s verse tells us that when we are baptized, it is about more than just getting wet. The New Testament writers give us two examples of what baptism means. First, baptism means entering the ark with Noah and being saved from the judgement of sin (1 Peter 3:20-21). Secondly baptism is passing through the Red Sea and being forever separated from our old life to a new one in Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:1-2) But, neither of these references comes close to explaining the wonderful blessing of the promise God offers us in today’s verse. Baptism is more than being saved from judgement, delivered from our enemies or separated for God’s purposes. Baptism is being united with Jesus Christ. Baptism is the step of faith by which we become one with Jesus Christ. Baptism is saying “I do” at the altar with Jesus, “Till death do we part.” Baptism is choosing to let go of our old desires, plans, and dreams, and reach out to what God has in mind. Baptism is planting our seed of faith in the Garden Tomb, and trusting that “”just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”


If you have not yet been baptized since you believed, I urge you with all my heart to obey by faith the Bible’s command (Acts 2:38,) It may be challenging, scary or controversial in your family, but when you do, you will begin to unlock the full blessing of being united with Christ. You will become one with Him at the cross, where He died, in His burial, trusting in the Father’s promise, and on the third day when the stone rolled away and together with Jesus, we walk out into a new life, forever united with Him!

The Other Epiphany

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

And the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22 ESV

Besides the Orthodox tradition that January 6th is the day the wise men arrived in Bethlehem, the word “Epiphany, as dictionary.com defines it is “a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality.” Not to take anything away from the wise men’s story, but how many know that there in another Epiphany? Locally here, in Tarpon Springs Florida, the Greek Orthodox church, celebrates this day by having their Archbishop throw a white cross into the Spring Bayou. Next a crowd of teen-aged boys dive in and the one who comes up with it receives a special blessing for himself and his family. This locally famous event recalls not the arrival of three men with camels and gifts but rather the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.

All over the world as people think of wise men presenting their gifts before the baby Jesus they get warm fuzzy feelings and wish they could have been there to see a cuddly baby in a manger. A far less cuddly Jesus reveals himself at His baptism thirty years later at the Jordan river. There, as God the Father looked down as Jesus, stood dripping wet from His baptism, He spoke with a voice that He wanted everyone to hear, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!” Just imagine, that the God who spoke the sun moon and stars into existence, was so excited that He spoke again and sent His Spirit down in the visible form of a dove. Now that’s an Epiphany! Jesus Christ was getting ready to heal the sick, raise the dead, walk on water and multiply bread. It was almost as if He was getting ready to go to work. His job however was not to write books, run a business or become a political leader; it was to show who God was to a world full of lonely, hurting and lost people. And considering the crazy year we have all been through we need Him more than ever today. Why not use this other Epiphany as the perfect time to invite Jesus to get to work in your life today?

For those interested to learn a little more about our local Epiphany celebration here is a short YouTube account. Have a blessed Epiphany day everyone!