Tarehe: Friday, 3rd July, 2.00pm

Mandhari Baptism

Agano Jipya Acts 2:38 ‘Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’

Swali: What is your response to this verse and other verses on baptism? What is it about?

For Other questions, Related verses, and Notes from the Sunday service — see: Related verses on Baptism

I have found as we look at these various themes, that the collection of relevant verses gives what I need to know, and some guidance about the aspects that I don’t need to know. And I found those on baptism especially meaningful. But here are a few extra thoughts.

However many verses I find, there are always more that add to our understanding, and one person found one as he was considering the question of whether baptism is essential for salvation. He remembered what Jesus said to the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43 that “today you will be with Me in Paradise.” – with no possibility of water baptism. But this person chose to be baptised as a believer in adult life, and that is very important to him.

As I looked through the many verses, I thought they show important aspects about baptism:

— It has long been a symbol for spiritual washing and cleansing from sin, and John the Baptist emphasized the aspect of repentance as an essential step in receiving forgiveness;

— It was clearly commanded by Jesus for people as part of conversion, although it was not essential in certain circumstances;

— Although debated by some bible scholars, it seems that immersion was the widespread practice in those early times. But it’s easy to see how different circumstances brought changes to the practice as the gospel spread to the northern European winters. In centuries past there was often no effective water heating, and insisting on full immersion in those temperatures could have led to a much quicker meeting with Jesus than anticipated! So, the practice of sprinkling is understandable.

— On the question of whether it is the physical event of baptism that produces a result – the bible verses stress the role of the Holy Spirit in baptism. In Ezekiel 36:25-26 , God says “I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you”. There is nothing magic about the mechanical actions involved, it is all due to what God is doing within the heart of the believer.

1 Peter 3:21 makes this clear, it says, “this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

So, the promise of baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire is about what God is doing in the heart of a believer who does not reject God’s gift in Jesus. Hence the believer needs to have some understanding of the gift they are receiving. So many babies who were baptised then either reject the gift of salvation as an adult, or never receive it in a personal way.

With all that, why was this physical act commanded?

I suggest that if we give mere mental assent to repentance and belief, it can remain a comfortable armchair attitude without any real change in us. To publicly proclaim our repentance for sin and our faith in Jesus who is the only one to save us, requires humility and a heart-felt faith.

And I suggest that positive action of baptism helps to prepare our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit. The connection between physical activity and mental health is well known, and I think there can also be a link between spiritual health and baptism.

Personal

I committed my life to Jesus and was baptised shortly before I turned 13. My experience since that time has shown a readiness to stand apart from the crowd, to be separated to the wonderful life that Jesus has given me through his sacrifice on the cross.

So, I am very glad I was baptized as a believer, that act of commitment has been a treasure throughout all of my life. And the response of Jesus to that commitment has been to guide and protect me from my worst inclinations.

That Jesus commanded baptism is enough for Why I should follow this practice. I don’t need to understand the mechanics of How, and I doubt whether I could.

Praise God for giving me the opportunity to activate my faith in baptism.