by Ray Caldwell
When I am reading texts that interest me, mostly the four gospels, the book of Acts and select works of contemporary positive psychology, naturally I enjoy particularly affirming moments when brief verses or phrases 'speak to me'. Other writers condense, confirm or clarify some awareness I've been living with.
For example, take 'baptism'. Water baptism, what is it all about? It's an important sacrament or ritual for the new believer or convert to Christianity:
Water baptism is a foundational practice in Christianity, representing the believer’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we are baptized, we publicly declare our faith in Christ and our commitment to follow Him. Just as Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, we too participate in this symbolic act as a sign of our spiritual rebirth and cleansing from sin.Scripture provides clear guidance on the significance of baptism. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands His disciples to baptize new believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of this act in the life of a disciple. This commandment underscores baptism as not only an outward expression of an inward change but also as a step of obedience and a mark of belonging to the body of Christ.
John's baptism and Jesus' Great Commission
preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of Isiah the prophet, saying:
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight.
Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together (the salvation of God).
(Luke 3:3-6)
And He [the resurrected Jesus Christ] said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned'.
(Mark 16:15-16)
No interrogation, no security checks; only belief
Stained glass window in Saint Seine church, Corbigny, France,
depicting the baptism of an adult
The criterion for being baptized is BELIEF. Are there any other criteria? It's ridiculously simple. If you do not believe, do not get baptized. If you believe, then get baptized.
There is no tough interrogating, no drawn out security checks, just simple, spontaneous faith, perhaps in a moment of enlightenment.
As faith and belief came to the apostle Peter, you also perceive that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
The Confession of Peter:
Depending on which gospel one reads, Peter either says: 'You are the Messiah' or 'the Christ' (Mark 8:29); or 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God', (Matthew 16:16), or 'God's Messiah' or 'The Christ of God' (Luke 9:20).
The proclamation of Jesus as Christ is fundamental to Christology.
|
Matthew 16:15–16 ·
'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I
am?' ·
Simon Peter answered: 'You are the Messiah, the
Son of the living God.' |
Mark 8:29 ·
'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I
am?' ·
Peter answered: 'You are the Messiah.' |
Luke 9:20 ·
'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I
am?' ·
Peter answered: 'God's Messiah.' |
|
Jesus selects
Peter |
Matthew 16:17–19 ·
Jesus replied: 'Blessed are you, Simon son of
Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father
in heaven. |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confession_of_Peter
Let me further illustrate. In my modest opinion, The Acts of the Apostles is a very informative place to go in order to see the impact of Jesus Christ on the first people who were his closest companions, and those immediately around the apostles at that time who believed because of their testimony.
When Saul (the apostle Paul) met the risen Christ on the Damascus Road, he believed that Jesus Christ was in fact, the Son of God. He was confronted in his disbelief by the person he was persecuting: the resurrected Jesus Christ.
Now he knew those of 'The Way' were for real about the resurrected Jesus Christ.
He had been in error holding a false belief that had deluded him. He confessed that he was wrong, he turned around (repented) and set out to pursue life in this new reality.
Actually, only a few days later, he was baptized:
(Acts 9:18)
And in Acts 8:35-37 we read:
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at the Scripture, preached Jesus to him. And as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said,
'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?'
And Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.'
And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'...and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Once again, we understand that there were no tough interrogations and no drawn out security checks. And we see that believing with all your heart is the only criteria to qualify you for baptism.
If you do, get baptized!
After baptism: new life
Christ Instructing Nicodemus attributed to Crijn Hendricksz Volmarijn (ca 1604-1645)
If you believe, you will naturally repent without effort, and live within your new enlightenment. You will naturally have new values, and pursue a new lifestyle. Because believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God will change your reality.
Of course, repentance may mean restitution in some instances, and probably forgiveness from the heart for some persons you have known, and also willingness with commitment not to judge other persons.
These have to be understood and carried out to demonstrate your seriousness regarding your belief with all your heart. that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Finally, the words that spoke to me were 'with all your heart'.
It is 45 years since I was baptized as an adult believer in Gold Hill Baptist Church, Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire.
And I still remember the Bible verse I was given at my baptism:
Of course, repentance may mean restitution in some instances, and probably forgiveness from the heart for some persons you have known, and also willingness with commitment not to judge other persons.
These have to be understood and carried out to demonstrate your seriousness regarding your belief with all your heart. that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Finally, the words that spoke to me were 'with all your heart'.
It is 45 years since I was baptized as an adult believer in Gold Hill Baptist Church, Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire.
And I still remember the Bible verse I was given at my baptism:
(2 Timothy 1:12-14, King James Version)
Since then, we've had the computer, mobile phone and now smartphone introduced into the human race.
I've worked out that a choice has to be made, because there are arguments for and against unbelief as well as belief. But the more I expose the facts of reality, the more I believe.
Faith and the Covid Pandemic
However, I've also committed doubts and wanderings since then, and have chosen to read positive psychology to help encourage me on the spiritual path; that is, life with an eternal future. In these days of eroding confidence in the church, and consequently in its Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, I've had to get back to basics. Did I believe WITH ALL MY HEART? Do I still believe it?
Since then, we've had the computer, mobile phone and now smartphone introduced into the human race.
I've worked out that a choice has to be made, because there are arguments for and against unbelief as well as belief. But the more I expose the facts of reality, the more I believe.
Faith and the Covid Pandemic
Westminster Cathedral towards the end of the pandemic (photo from Vatican News website)
A final point I'd like to make concerns the so-called 'pandemic', the closing of churches during the pandemic and the ringing of church bells for the National Health Service.
What I say will be controversial, but I believe it has to be said.
The early Christians in the Book of Acts were acting in defiance of the authority of their land. They were commanded not to preach or speak in Jesus' name.
They defied all the attempts from the authority of Jerusalem to stop the early disciples preaching or meeting together as 'The Way' to worship together and pray to Jesus Christ our Lord.
The apostle Peter is the one whom Jesus selected to lead the twelve apostles as in:
Saint Luke also reports in Acts (I will fill in the scenario):
What I say will be controversial, but I believe it has to be said.
The early Christians in the Book of Acts were acting in defiance of the authority of their land. They were commanded not to preach or speak in Jesus' name.
They defied all the attempts from the authority of Jerusalem to stop the early disciples preaching or meeting together as 'The Way' to worship together and pray to Jesus Christ our Lord.
The apostle Peter is the one whom Jesus selected to lead the twelve apostles as in:
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'
(Matthew 16:18-19)Saint Luke also reports in Acts (I will fill in the scenario):
And the high priest asked them, saying, "Did we not strictly command you that you should not teach in this name? .....
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men".
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
(Acts 5:27-30; 41).
The point I am making is, do politicians have the final word above the church and God? To close down church worship is to close down believers together praying for deliverance from every foul fiend and spirit.
(Matthew 18:20)
And:
'...these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
(Mark 16:17-18)
In my modest opinion there was a clear open disbelief in God by the government that the church had any power to influence the foul virus or deliver the people from it. Perhaps an indication that the kingdom of Great Britain, once Christianised, was no longer.
The only body who could help, apparently, was the National Health Service.
I know it's very controversial, but true believers have been promised persecution: real nasty persecution.
We make up our own minds, of course.
The ongoing challenge for us who have been baptized, is to continue, or to ramp up, the belief with all our heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that belief that qualified us for our baptism. With all your heart is just that: with ALL your heart.
Do I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? With all my heart?
Do you?
In my modest opinion there was a clear open disbelief in God by the government that the church had any power to influence the foul virus or deliver the people from it. Perhaps an indication that the kingdom of Great Britain, once Christianised, was no longer.
The only body who could help, apparently, was the National Health Service.
I know it's very controversial, but true believers have been promised persecution: real nasty persecution.
We make up our own minds, of course.
The ongoing challenge for us who have been baptized, is to continue, or to ramp up, the belief with all our heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that belief that qualified us for our baptism. With all your heart is just that: with ALL your heart.
Do I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? With all my heart?
Do you?
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