For Christians, believers' baptism is an outward sign of a life change initiated in the heart by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Baptism symbolizes the cleansing from sin along with the attitude and action of repentance and the admission to the community of faith.
John the Baptist said, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:11-12 NIV).
I was blessed to grow up in a small country church in Marshall County, Iowa. It was the same country church where my parents and their parents attended. It was the same church where my father's side goes back three more generations to that of my great great great grandfather, John Arney. Where he and his neighbors gathered in his home to worship after homesteading on the Iowa prairie, close to the timber along the Iowa River.
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:13-15 NIV).
In about 1923, Clara Hilsabeck and Corwin Springer were baptized in the Iowa River. Mama remembered it was cloudy and kind of cool, in the spring.
They drove to the river at Grammer Grove where there were low banks and an open
space without a lot of trees. The river water was cold. Pastor George Biersborn took
his hand and raised water up and let it fall back. Mama said she was scared to
death. The water was waist deep. They would come up to the bank and walk out to
deeper water, enough to cover them up. Parents were lined up along the bank with
blankets ready to wrap around the youth. Mama said she didn’t want to talk for the longest time.
"Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17 NIV).
Jesus was the only perfect man. He had no sin to be forgiven, yet He chose to be baptized. There are several reasons to explain why, but consider the example Jesus set. After His baptism Jesus officially began His life of ministry.
I was baptized in that precious church on April 9, 1967. It was just the beginning of my life and I had a long way to grow into the Christian I am today (I am indeed still growing in Christ everyday). I am grateful to Jesus for the life He led on this earth. For the examples He provided and the teaching He gave us.
May God touch your heart with His blessings and the ministry of Jesus Christ today.
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