Entering the waters of baptism

It’s a big day in Vaughan central. Was thrilled to be able to lead my girl into the waters of baptism.

Today, I led my girl into the water, being baptized again by a dear friend, our church’s family pastor, David Grothe, and then standing with youth pastor Tim Shepherd, as we lowered her into the water.

It is never too late. Some 300 believers were baptized during the 3 weekend services, and I saw one woman approaching 80 years of age coming up out of the water.

In our Methodist church back in Virginia, I made my public profession of faith at about age 12. We cradle Methodists practice three forms of the water sacrament: sprinkle, pour, or immersion, and I received sprinkle baptism from our pastor there. Almost exactly 50 years later, I still remember his strong hand on my head and the water streaming down my hair and neck.

Pastor David Gyertson, whom I knew back in Virginia Beach, was ordained Methodist and told me he was actually baptized with melted snow in Canada.

This is different from infant sprinkling. That is more of a dedication to God, but does not replace that child’s need for accepting Christ when he or she reaches a certain age in order to be born again and sealed into eternal life.

Presbyterians do not encourage any adult who accepts Christ to be baptized in water if they were sprinkled as a baby. I disagree. Baby dedication is not believer’s baptism.

I attended a Presbyterian church in Virginia Beach and they did not sprinkle babies, only dedicated them to the Lord, so as to keep with the denomination’s rules and then be able to baptize adults when the right time came.

Our church here in Colorado

practices only the immersion form for those who are physically able, and truly the Greek word for baptize means “to immerse.”

If anyone wants to read further . . .

The New Testament speaks of three forms of baptism and it can be confusing, especially since Paul wrote of “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

Can one have eternal life w/out being baptized in water? Surely, or the thief on the cross would not have joined Jesus in paradise. He had a deathbed conversion, so to speak.

But for those who are able, there is no “out” as baptism in water shows to the world our forgiveness of sins and, as Paul wrote in Romans 6, our being truly buried with Christ into baptism unto death, then raised by the glory of God.

First, and paramount to anything else, the Holy Spirit baptizes (immerses) us into the body/Church of Jesus Christ when we accept Him as Lord and Savior. That is what Paul referred to (I believe), one baptism for all believers. That is also when we are ‘born of the Holy Spirit’ and the Holy Spirit instantly comes to live inside us, the indwelling Spirit, as described by John chapter 4.

Second, a pastor baptizes us into water, as happened to my daughter today (and to me again). That is a command of Scripture, to follow Jesus into water baptism. As Peter instructs in Acts 2: “Repent and be baptized . . .”

Finally, Luke quotes Jesus in the book of Acts, chapter 1: You have been baptized in water, but I will baptize you in the Holy Spirit for power to be My witnesses. The New Testament calls this the infilling Spirit, which flows out of us, in John’s words in chapter 7, as rivers of living life. That can happen concurrently with either of the first two, or subsequently to them.

Jesus experienced all three: He was born of the Holy Spirit when the Spirit came upon Mary. He was baptized in water by His cousin John, and immediately the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and then He began his earthly ministry.

We are so proud of our girl today. Thanks to our dear friends who came to watch: Bob and Tricia, Rich, and Pastor Dave.

One proud dad today, as a proud mom and little bro watch from close by.