BAPTISM

      As the assistant minister began making his way into the baptismal waters, the congregation was singing the closing words of the hymn “He Leadeth Me”. How appropriate, I thought. At the beginning of his public ministry here on Earth, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, stepped in the baptismal waters of the Jordan River. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, had been baptizing converted sinners in that river for a short while, but never in his wildest dreams did he think he would be baptizing his cousin, Jesus of Nazareth. But, Jesus came to John, seeking a water baptism. John had told his followers “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3:11 In the first chapter of Gospel of John, verse 31, John the Baptist said the reason he came baptizing with water was so that he (meaning Jesus) might be revealed to Israel and later to us.

      The young girl, who was the candidate for baptismal this morning, entered the waters from the opposite side of the baptistery. Gently taking her hand, the minister helped her position herself in preparation for this very sacred ceremony. Then raising his hand toward the heavens, he intoned the familiar words……”upon profession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize thee my sister, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” As the young girl is immersed in the water, the minister continues, “…buried with Christ” and as she comes up out of the water….”raised to a new life in Christ.” At this point the entire congregation is on its feet, praising God and applauding. This is done to show our affirmation to give spiritual guidance and love to this newest member of our congregation.

      The young girl had made her profession of faith weeks earlier. She was then counseled by the pastor and other staff members to acquaint her with scriptures that would sustain her new-found faith in the Lord. She was made aware of the privileges and duties that come with the membership in the local church which she sought.

      She was smiling as she turned to leave the baptismal waters. The “dunking” in the water did not save her soul; it did not make her any more of a Christian than she already was. It was her outward expression of an inward experience of receiving eternal salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. She was following the example set by Jesus himself. Following His baptism in the Jordan River, at the hands of John the Baptist, His heavenly Father sent the Sprit down from heaven in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I love and in whom I am well pleased.” I think that this morning this same thing occurred, although not audibly, but the Lord assured this young lady that she is loved by Him and the Holy Spirit will dwell in her.