Baptism is a one time, inaugural event like being born, or the first day of preschool, or getting married to your lifelong spouse. It never happens again.
It doesn’t need to happen again. Why? Because baptism is God’s work and God doesn’t need any “do-overs” ever. God doesn’t make mistakes, doesn’t forget something important, doesn’t need autocorrect or annual checkups.
Jesus was baptized once, that’s it. And it stuck forever. Christians need only one baptism, that’s it. Because it sticks forever. So let’s look at Jesus’ baptism.
“At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:16,17).
Notice what is happening here, and what isn’t happening.
Heaven opens above Jesus. God the Holy Spirit descends onto Jesus. God the Father speaks words of love and validation to Jesus. What is Jesus doing? Nothing. He’s soaking it all in!
Baptism is an act of God, not an act of a person. Visualize it like a big bucket of water being dumped out of the sky, from heaven. That’s a big splash! God is at work while the person being baptized does nothing other than soak it all in. Just like Jesus.
“All of us who were baptized … were 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” (Romans 6:3,4).
Something actually happens when a sinner is baptized. The curse and guilt of our sins is killed, it dies. The person is washed clean and given a new life, just like something happened when Jesus rose from the dead. It’s real.
If you are baptized, you are connected to the death and resurrection of Jesus for a new life.
It’s life-changing. Heaven opens and God the Holy Spirit descends. God the Father speaks, “I love you, my child. I choose you.”
PRAYER: Dear God the Father, you promise in my baptism that I am loved and forgiven. Dear Holy Spirit, in my baptism you opened heaven and descended on me with faith and other spiritual gifts. Dear Jesus, Son of God and Savior of the world, lead me to walk in the identity and righteousness of my baptism, just as you did in yours. Amen.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: I have a crossword puzzle based on the baptism of Jesus. Want it? Just request it at hello@crosslifepf.org
