APRIL 24: BE BAPTIZED

The subject of Baptism was a practice in the New Testament among believers in Christ following the instruction of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19). “Baptism” comes from the Greek word baptize, meaning, “to dip, submerge, or immerse”. It denotes baptism in water.

Believer’s baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, describing the redemptive work of Christ. The early church understood baptism in various ways as the forgiveness of sins, deliverance from death, regeneration or new birth, the gift of the Holy Spirit, renunciation of Satan and identification with Christ.

In response to the work of redemptive grace received by the people in Acts 2:37-38, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. To be baptized into Christ is necessary for one to receive forgiveness and forgiveness comes through that which is symbolized by baptism (Rom. 6:3-4).

Being baptized is a distinctive way to respond to the redemptive grace of God. It typifies the believer’s death to his old life, its burial, and his resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus (rom. 6:4-6; Col. 2:12). Moreover, it implies faith in the coming resurrection from the dead (1 Cor. 15:13). Have you been baptized into Christ? Today, resolve to be baptized into the death and life of Christ in order to attest to your identification with Christ Jesus and His redemptive grace.

PRAYER: Dear father, I receive grace to consistently put to death all that represents the old life in me and to stay alive in Christ.