More than thirty-five verses in the New Testament speak about your Christian baptism. Verses recorded in Matthew chapter 28 and Mark chapter 16 teach that Jesus started this Sacrament after His resurrection. Acts 2:38 shows that Christians should baptize repentant sinners.
The Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, attached His good news of salvation to the water used with your baptism. He poured forgiveness of sins upon your head. Galatians chapter 3 declares: “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism placed the robe of Christ’s sinlessness about your shoulders.
According to verses in Acts chapter 22, Titus chapter 3, and First Peter chapter 3, God’s gospel-water washed away your sins, enabled you to rely on Jesus, and made you an heir of heaven. Baptism has enabled you to talk confidently with God.
Use your baptism wisely. The first two verses of Romans chapter 6 warn Christians not to misuse God’s full forgiveness as a license for intentional sinning. Jesus and baptism provide you with deliverance from sin, not with permission to commit sin. Unless repented of, willful sinning nullifies the saving work of Jesus and baptism.
Baptism Enables
Through baptism God Himself enables you to lead a God-pleasing life. God’s washing not only delivered you from sin’s guilt and punishment, but also from its power and control.
Romans chapter 6 relates how the forces of evil attacked and humiliated Jesus at His crucifixion, death, and burial. But on Easter morning the Heavenly Father raised Jesus to a life entirely free from Satan’s attacks.
In a similar way your inherited sinful nature had control over you, but through God’s washing of regeneration He gave you a new spiritual life free from Satan’s tyranny. Now you can say “no” to evil temptations and “yes” to God’s ten commandments.
Finally, highly value the generous outpouring of the Holy Spirit which accompanies your baptism.
Your valuable Christian baptism includes the renewal of the Holy Ghost, which God shed on you abundantly through Jesus Christ your Savior. The Holy Comforter warns you during times of temptation. In days of trouble He reminds you of God’s promises in Scripture and urges you to pray. Through the gospel He keeps your Christian faith alive and enables you to abound more and more in godly living.
Baptized into Thy name most holy,
O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
I claim a place though meek and lowly
Among Thy seed, Thy chosen host.
Buried with Christ and dead to sin,
Thy Spirit now shall live within (TLH 298:1)
–Pastor Em. Robert Mackensen