Baptism is a next step in your spiritual journey after you make the decision to follow Jesus. On the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter stood and boldly proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the people in the crowd heard the truth they were convicted of their sin and caused to believe in Christ. They asked Peter what they should do now that they believed, Peter replied by saying…

 

There are three things baptism is intended to signify in the lives of those who are baptized…

 

Mark 16:16 says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will will be condemned.”

 

While we believe that baptism is a visible experience which follows an individual’s spiritual commitment, it is, nonetheless, a definite statement of our faith in Jesus Christ and our commitment to live according to His will for our lives.

 

In John 3:5, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”

 

Christianity, unlike any other religion, offers a brand new beginning to those who have realized that they have totally messed up their lives. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of this new birth, a new birth that is not physical but spiritual. Baptism symbolically represents the birthing process in which a person Is spiritually reborn.

 

Acts 22:16 says, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

 

As water purifies us outwardly, so does the baptismal water signify the inward cleansing of our

hearts. The removal of our sins is not merely external in that we stop sinful behavior. The removal

of our sin is accomplished through an inward cleansing of our hearts and consciences.