Grow: First Steps with Jesusنموونە

BAPTISM OF BELIEVERS

The followers of Jesus were referred to as His disciples. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? What does it mean to declare Jesus as Lord of your life?

Being someone who studies the teachings of Jesus.

Being someone who follows the values of Jesus.

Being someone who lives in relationship with Jesus.

Being someone who lives out the purposes of Jesus.

His disciples went through a public demonstration to prove that they were indeed His followers by executing what the Bible calls baptism. Jesus himself was also baptized. At the end of His life, He commanded His disciples to make disciples of all men, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19: 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.

In the Book of Acts, we read how many people responded to this commandment of Jesus. In most cases, the new disciples were immediately baptized. 

(See this long list of examples of new followers of Jesus who were baptized in Acts 2:37-41, 8:5-13, 8:36-38, 9:10-12, 9:17-19, 10:47-48, 16:13-15, 16:27-34, 18:5-8, 19:1-5, 22:14-17)

So if you also want to be baptized, how would that work? A mature Christian would gather with your friends, family, and people from the church family. You would then be submerged into the water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as described in Matthew 28:19. It is a public declaration of a spiritual reality.

Baptism has a very rich meaning. The spiritual reality that is expressed in this practical action is found in Romans 6:3-4.

Romans 6:3-4: 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 people who believe in Jesus, we are convinced that we died with Him and that we were raised from the dead with Him. And that is why believers want to demonstrate this spiritual reality with a practical and public act of baptism.

We encourage you then to consider to be baptized. Please contact any Doxa Deo church for more information and assistance in regards to this decision.

Daily Affirmation: "Jesus, I’ve been baptized with you and I have been raised to a new life."

Action Step for Today: Write down your observations as you read the examples of people who were baptized in the book of Acts.