To identify

G911
βάπτω - baptō - bap'-to
A primary verb; to whelm, that is, cover wholly with a fluid

G907 "baptize"
βαπτίζω - baptizō - bap-tid'-zo
From a derivative of G911; to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptist,


Romans Chapter 6

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:


1. Through baptism we identify with Christ, as it is a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection
2. Jesus Christ himself asked to be baptized by John the Baptist, to show his identification with the sign of repentance - though he had no sins to repent of.
3. Baptism is a means of publicly announcing that we identify with Christ, and that we are turning away from our old selves and toward Christ

I raised my hand at the age of seven in a small old broken down house that my grandmother and a few others had started a church in. Almost 20 years ago, I raised my hand with eyes closed when he asked if there was anyone there who hadn't given their heart to Jesus and asked him to save their soul. I do believe that moment was important in my life, I do believe that being raised with my grandparents and family who were so religious played a large part in my always believing in God. But I have learned over the past year, that believing in and having true faith in God and His son are very different things. There is believing in your head, and then there is believing in your heart - and the latter creates change.

I believe I was saved a long time ago - God has saved me from myself many times. But I think there is a danger in the simplicity of the invitationals at the end of sermons - I believe there is a danger in growing up believing that you always believed in God that gets you to heaven and lets you escape from Hell. I think that it makes it too easy to escape true salvation - makes it too easy to miss the gift of true repentance, which results in real changes in your heart and mind and life. I was confused the first time I went back to church for the first time, shortly after I moved back home. The music and the sermon - everything just spoke to me that day, and at the end of the sermon I walked up to the altar and cried. At the end of the service, Pastor Mike walked up to me and said, "Did you get saved today?" I left the church feeling overwhelmed and confused - I'd been saved since I was seven... so what happened that day?

I got caught up in confusion and distractions, and didn't go back to church for almost a year. Some things changed in my life and all of a sudden I felt like I was at the lowest point I could possibly reach - I had set the wrong priorities in my life and couldn't seem to shake a constant feeling of disappointment, anger, and bitterness toward life in general. I finally got myself back in church, and over the past year God has used Pastor Mike and everyone around me to teach me where I was and was not for the past 20 years.

I'm glad He has given me something I can feel. I'm glad he's made changes that I never thought were possible, seem much easier when I'm not trying to be in control. I'm glad He gave me the chance to publicly and privately identify with Him. I'm glad I got baptized today. It has felt like something I should do for a while, and I just had a feeling of peace and - identification with the Savior today.

Pastor Mike said the other night in theology class that he thinks the number one thing that we as Christians are supposed to do is to enjoy God and the things He gave us. Above witnessing, worship, and everything else. We all sat there because on our list we had almost all put that last - because we felt that was one of the more selfish things on the list. We put worship, and helping others, and all the others as more important.

But he explained - if we don't enjoy God, we won't do any of those other things for His glory. And any other reason is not the right one, and makes it works for works only.

I'm glad He's teaching me to enjoy Him.