TUESDAY May 23, 2023

Baptized in the Name of the Lord

Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Acts 10:46-48

Peter acknowledged that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit, and so the next obvious step was to baptize them. He urged those who witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, “Let them be baptized right now!”

If you have never been water baptized, you need to be water baptized. Water baptism is not going to save you. Baptism is symbolic, as it identifies you with Christ’s death and Resurrection. As you are placed under the water, symbolically, the old sinful man is put to death, and, as you come up out of the water, symbolically, the new man is risen with Christ. Romans 6:4-6 explains what baptism means to a believer:

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

People have asked, “If I get killed in a car accident, and I am not baptized, will I go to heaven?” Of course! The thief on the Cross was not baptized. What comforting words did the Lord say to him as he was dying? He said to the thief who believed on Him: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Listen, be open to share the Gospel with other people. Like Peter and the other disciples, we can lead them to Christ so they may receive Jesus, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and be baptized.

Baptism is the initial step of a faithful heart.
~Max Lucado~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!