Made New

“Your regrets, mistakes, and personal failures need not follow you into the present.”

- unknown

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old is gone, the new is here!”

- The Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:17

I love baptism! This past Sunday, at the Church at RB, we celebrated as thirteen individuals stepped into the waters of baptism. Thirteen people drew a line in the sand and made a public proclamation of their faith in Jesus Christ. Congratulations to Margaret, Alison, Jordyn, Matt, Alex, Dave, Sage, Lynette, Riley, Aiden, Jade, Sam and Asher. What an amazing service!

Baptism does not make us new, but it does symbolize that we are new in Christ Jesus. Baptism does not save us, but it does outwardly profess the inward transformation that took place in us when we gave our life to Jesus Christ.

In his message, Pastor Jared reminded us that God is not in the business of making us better, nor is He in the business of helping us try harder… God is in the business of making us new. As the Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “In Christ, we are a new creation!”

So, if baptism is not required for salvation, why step into the waters of baptism? There are several reasons:

1. Jesus commanded us to be baptized. In Matthew 28:19 (The Great Commission), Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” It is an act of obedience to what Jesus commands us to do.
2. Jesus modeled it. In Mark 1:9-11, we read, “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” Not only did Jesus model it for us, but God the Father sent His stamp of approval, announcing that this is His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. While those baptized this past Sunday may not have heard the audible voice of God, I do believe in their heart of hearts, they heard God’s voice saying, “This is my beloved son, or this is my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased.”
3. It identifies us with the death and Resurrection of Jesus. In Romans 6:3-4, the Apostle Paul writes, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” As we go into the water, it symbolizes our desire to die to ourselves. Then as we come up out of the water, it symbolizes and represents that we have been MADE NEW in Christ Jesus.
4. And finally, it is an opportunity to tell the world that you are a follower of Jesus Christ, and to proclaim Him as your Savior and Lord.

If you have not been baptized as an adult to profess your faith in Jesus, it is never too late. Talk to someone and share your desire to proclaim that you, too, have been made new in Christ.

We would love the privilege of celebrating baptism with you.

Pastor Ken

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