COCINLCC, Garki

PREPARING FOR BAPTISM

Baptism is repentance for the remission of sin (Acts 2:38). Sin is any wrong doing (1 John 5:17a) while repentance is saying sorry over the wrong things we have been involved in. Remission speaks of cancellation of the wrong things done. Hence baptism has to do with the formal way of getting your sins cancelled. To cancel also means the whole record of sin is deleted. The Bible tells us in Psalm 103:12 that when God deletes or erases our sins He takes it as far away as East is from the West. Thus we are talking about the person being made to be as if he never sinned. The records of sin are completely wiped away. This means that it is a serious business that needs total commitment and focus.

Baptismis also a formal announcement by the repentant person that he now identifies with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection (Colossians 2:12). Furthermore, the Bible tells us that sin is a reproach (Proverbs 14:34). Reproach speaks of disapproval or disappointment. It means if we have sinned we will be disappointed in life or we will receive disapproval from God. No wander anyone that has sinned will find life difficult as he or she encounters one disappointment after another. And where God disapproves of you it means you cannot receive from God, neither can you be a candidate for heaven. This is serious. That is why baptism, which deals with sin, needs adequate preparation so that one can get its full benefits.

However, the Bible says it is the blood of Jesus that does the actual washing away of the sin (1 John 1:7). The word of God also washes us (Ephesians 5:26). But baptism occupies a special place in the program of God since Jesus Himself was baptized (Mathew 3:13-17) and it was ordered by Jesus Christ Himself (Mark 16:16) where he said if anyone believes in the message and repents he should be baptized and he shall be saved.

The question that comes to mind then is how do I prepare so that I can get the maximum benefits of baptism? We shall look at the following seven steps that are necessary:
- You must realize that you are a sinner. Bible says in Romans 3:21 that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. David said that it was in iniquity (sin) that he was conceived (Psalm 51:5). So you cannot claim to be without sin;
- You need a saviour to help you with the sin (Matthew 1: 21 and Acts 4:12);
- Believe in Jesus as the payment for your sin (1John 1: 2, John 1:12; Acts 8:37, and Romans 10:9);
- The you need to repent (Mathew 3:6, Proverbs 28:13, Acts 2: 38 and 1John 1:9);
- Accept Jesus as your Lord and saviour by inviting him to your life (Revelation 3:20, Romans 10:9);
- Then you will be taught everything Jesus said we need to know and do them (Mathew 28:20); and
- Then you will be baptized (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2: 2, Matthew 28:19).
Note that items numbers 6 and 7 can actually run together. Indeed, number 6 continues even after your baptism.

In our church we do not do like Phillip did to the Ethiopian Eunuch who was baptized immediately he gave his life to Jesus (Acts 8:26- 39). But our church encourages people to be taught for a period of time before they are baptized. This is to enable them know what they are going into especially the fact that they will be publicly identifying with Jesus in His death and resurrection as well as become full members of the church. That is, they need to know their responsibilities as members of the body Christ. However, remember that as good as baptism is it will not take you to heaven if after baptism you deliberately decide to go back to sinning (1peter 33:21) but you must be one that obeys Jesus and does what He commands us to do (Matthew 7:21).

May the Lord help you to prepare for baptism. It is one of the great things your parents are looking forward to, for you to take the decision. They will not decide for you. Nobody will decide for you. You have to decide by yourself.

God bless you as you decide TODAY!
Elder Yunana Jackdell Malo


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