Baptism: The Beginning of the Journey

This Sunday, we once again celebrate new believers entering into the waters of Baptism. It is a visible reminder that the Gospel will continue changing lives until the trumpet sounds. In a culture that’s lost its way, God is still in the business of making all things new. Every person is a testimony of God’s love through salvation in Jesus Christ. Baptism is a declaration that death has been defeated, sin has been forgiven, and a new life has been reborn in the newness of Christ. 

Baptism is not the end of our journey, nor is it a medal ceremony or graduation day. It’s the beginning of faithfully walking in the ways of the Lord. It is publicly declaring, “I belong to Jesus, and I’m not turning back.” 

As Paul writes in Romans 6:4: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that… we too might walk in newness of life.” 

When you come out of that water, heaven rejoices, but hell does not retreat; instead, it goes on the offensive. That’s because baptism is the believer’s public announcement that their old life is over and the new life has begun. It’s a funeral for the flesh and a resurrection with Christ. It’s a declaration of allegiance to the King of Kings. 

For the rest of us, witnessing this is a great honor. But even greater, we must walk with each person, strengthening, encouraging, and helping them start the journey of being an overcomer of this world. This is our mandate. Baptism only takes a few minutes, but discipleship takes a lifetime, and the journey is never meant to be walked alone. Anyone who states that they can be a believer and not attend church is woefully deceived. 

As a church family, we’re called to cheer them on, pray them forward, stand with them in trial, and walk with them in truth. So I want to challenge you never to lose your awe of what baptism means, and let’s never lose our urgency to see more lives transformed by the Gospel. With that, we will see the waters of baptism stirred again and again.