If you go to our website and read about being baptized in water, you'll find a lot of great information there. (See for yourself... freedomkw.com/baptism) I was re-reading it today and found myself with a "yes and amen" to all the reasons that baptism is important:
It is obedience to Christ's Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20;
It follows the example of Jesus;
It follows the example of the Early Church;
It confirms identification with Christ;
It is a testimony of the change in your life.
But our study of the book of Colossians in April and May brought water baptism freshly to my mind and heart. The way that Paul describes the spiritual transaction that baptism models is incredible.
“11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
When you are baptized, you are being obedient to Jesus, following His example and making a public declaration of your faith in Him... but you are also making a powerful statement to yourself. Your identity has changed... or, more accurately, has been realigned with who you were created to be as a child of God. Your whole self (identity) that was focused on you is dead and buried and your life is made new because of your faith in Christ's death and resurrection. You were dead and God made you alive.
Baptism doesn't save you or make you a "real" Christian. No action can do that, only receiving Christ can. But it is still given to us as a powerful step to take as believers to mark the fact that we have truly been raised to life.
We are planning two opportunities for water baptism this year: July 30 and December 31. If you have a relationship with Jesus and have never been baptized in water, I challenge you to take this step. You can learn more on our website (freedomkw.com/baptism) or talk to any of our pastoral staff (our contact information is on our website). If you are ready to be baptized but these dates don't work for you, just let us know and we'll happily fill up the tank and celebrate this moment with you on another day!
Grateful to be alive in Christ,
Pastor Tracy
THIS SUNDAY
SUNDAY, JUNE 25 @ 10am
IN CONTEXT
Philippians 4:13
Tracy Dunham
Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!
10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)