A New Beginning
Spiritual Disciplines 5
John the Baptist came first calling people to repent from their sinful ways and to change the way they lived in preparation for the Messiah who was to come. John baptized with water, a physical action in preparation for a spiritual change to occur.
Baptism was a washing away of the past that cleansed the people from their old lifestyle making them ready for a godly life.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:11
People came to John to make themselves ready for a new kind of life. They had no way of knowing exactly what this new life would look like but they came full of hope and expecting a move of God.
Today, people still come to God because they are ready to make changes and they have finally realized that they can't do it on their own. They need help and they know it.
In turning to Christ, a whole new way of living is opened up to us. And we have to learn what this new life looks like and how to live it.
While repentance is an invisible exchange between you and Jesus, your sin taken and His Righteousness given and received; baptism is the public declaration that you have surrendered your life to Christ and you now belong to God.
Baptism is a spiritual discipline that many follow through with. It is something we choose to do. Before you say that you don't need to be baptized as an adult because it was done when you were a baby, let me say - that is not true (see the previous post).
Jesus was presented in the temple as an infant by His parents (Luke 2:22) and as an adult, He chose to submit to the Father and fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15) by submitting to the baptism with water by John.
But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
Matt. 3:15
Jesus chose to obey God and be baptized. We have the same choice.
Don't miss any of our articles on the spiritual disciplines! Sign up today to have them delivered to your email. You can also connect with us on Facebook by clicking the on the icon.
Put God first in all you do.
Heidirn
John the Baptist came first calling people to repent from their sinful ways and to change the way they lived in preparation for the Messiah who was to come. John baptized with water, a physical action in preparation for a spiritual change to occur.
Baptism was a washing away of the past that cleansed the people from their old lifestyle making them ready for a godly life.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:11
People came to John to make themselves ready for a new kind of life. They had no way of knowing exactly what this new life would look like but they came full of hope and expecting a move of God.
Today, people still come to God because they are ready to make changes and they have finally realized that they can't do it on their own. They need help and they know it.
In turning to Christ, a whole new way of living is opened up to us. And we have to learn what this new life looks like and how to live it.
While repentance is an invisible exchange between you and Jesus, your sin taken and His Righteousness given and received; baptism is the public declaration that you have surrendered your life to Christ and you now belong to God.
Baptism is a spiritual discipline that many follow through with. It is something we choose to do. Before you say that you don't need to be baptized as an adult because it was done when you were a baby, let me say - that is not true (see the previous post).
Jesus was presented in the temple as an infant by His parents (Luke 2:22) and as an adult, He chose to submit to the Father and fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15) by submitting to the baptism with water by John.But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
Matt. 3:15
Jesus chose to obey God and be baptized. We have the same choice.
Don't miss any of our articles on the spiritual disciplines! Sign up today to have them delivered to your email. You can also connect with us on Facebook by clicking the on the icon.
Put God first in all you do.
Heidirn
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