The Journey: West Chester, PA

This past Sunday a guest preacher washed someone’s feet during the service. In the midst of this act of love and service I was instantly reminded of Peter’s response when Jesus wanted to wash his feet. “No Lord! You cannot serve me. Washing my feet is beneath you.” Jesus then threw Peter for a loop, “If you won’t let me wash your feet or serve you then you are out of the group. No more Team Jesus for you Peter!” (My paraphrase)

Are you serious Jesus?!? Peter does an about face and says, “In that case Lord, not just my feet but my whole body!” Jesus replies, “You don’t need a bath.” Peter realized that there are some things that are just easier than others. There are some things that God commands that are easy to fulfill while other things are difficult.

As a pastor I’ve come to the realization that one of those difficult things can be having your feet washed. Another is baptism. So often when it comes to baptism I hear people say things like, “I’m waiting for the right time” or “I’m just not feeling it.” I think the worst excuse I’ve heard is, “When God really puts it on my heart, then I’ll get baptized.” Really? So the command to repent and baptized wasn’t enough?

Two passages stand out to me in this conversation concerning baptism: Matthew 3:13-17 and Romans 6:1-11. Go ahead and read them some time. The passage in Matthew conveys the story of Jesus being baptized by His cousin John. Yeah you read that right, John baptized Jesus. Jesus told John that He needed to be baptized in order to fulfill all righteousness. Well, what is right? To obey God in all things.

Now baptism does not save you any more than a wedding ring makes you married. Ephesians 2 tells us that by grace through faith in Christ Jesus we are saved. But just as a wedding ring is a symbol of the vows I made to my wife, baptism is a beautiful symbol of spiritual truths from God. Romans 6 tells us that when we are baptized it is a symbol of Jesus death, burial and resurrection. It is also a symbol of our dying to our self, burying our old life, and being raised anew to live for Christ. Another truth we see in baptism is the amazing picture of being washed. When we are forgiven of our sins by God through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence inside us and washes us clean on the inside. This truth is called the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. This is God’s gift to us as He seals us with the Holy Spirit as God’s children. Baptism is an outward picture of the inward cleansing of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, if you have never come to a place of receiving salvation through Christ Jesus, baptism is not necessary. Or perhaps you were baptized as a child but before being saved, then baptism is nothing more than taking a bath. Baptism is the first act of obedience after being saved. Repent and be baptized is not a “feeling,” it’s a command that demands a response. Not only is it a command that demands a response from you, but it is a beautiful picture of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. It is a picture of your dying to self and living a purpose-filled abundant life in Christ. And it is a picture of the washing clean that the Holy Spirit has done in your heart.

Have you placed your faith and trust in Jesus? If so, have you been baptized? Will you obey today? February 19th we will be baptizing during our morning service. We at The Journey take this seriously and want to help you explore your faith. If you have questions or desire to discuss this more in depth we would love to meet with you. When you obey God’s command and are baptized it is more than just taking a bath, it is a proclamation of the Gospel!

Faithfully Submitting to God’s Commands - Justin Chapman

by: Justin Chapman | Categories: Discipleship