Your Baptism Preparation

When Jesus walked the earth, he gave his followers some pretty simple instructions about the way that they should live. One of the main things he said was to go and make disciples, baptising them and teaching them to obey all that he had commanded. As a result, baptism is one of the first steps that people take to affirm their belief in Jesus and demonstrate their willingness to live life according to his will for their lives.
Baptism is often referred to as an outward expression of an inward decision. But it's not only that. It's an opportunity to publicly declare your faith in Jesus and say not only that you believe in Jesus but that you want to follow him all the days of your life.

Baptism is also an ancient rite of initiation into the life of the church, God’s family.  The word ‘baptise’ has meant numbers of things to numbers of people over the years. The Greeks used the word to describe the process of dyeing a garment or of filling a small vessel by plunging it into a larger source. In some contexts, it has meant to plunge or dip. Jewish tradition paid a great deal of attention to ritual washing. If you travelled to Jerusalem today and sat on the steps leading up to the ruins of the temple, you would see the ceremonial pools people bathed in before entering the temple to worship. This is a helpful image but signifies only one aspect of Christian baptism.

In Jewish culture students who were invited to join the school of a Rabbi were ceremonially baptised in the name of that rabbi. It was a visible way of signifying their  allegiance to and ‘immersion’ in, the learning of their teacher. So, when someone is baptised into Jesus’ name, it signifies that they are identifying with him as his disciple. Today the idea of Baptism could be summarised as plunging in so as to wholly overwhelm someone with a view to a complete filling or change.

The central idea behind repentance is that of "a change of mind" or "to have another mind".  Therefore, to repent is to allow God’s thoughts to have a higher authority than anyone else’s thoughts, including your own.

Author Ern Baxter says:  "Repentance is the informing and changing of the mind the stirring and directing of the emotions to urge the required change; and the action of the will in turning the whole life away from sin and unto God".

In various passages of the Bible such as Acts 2:38, those who heard the message about Jesus and believed it personally, were encouraged to be baptised. Therefore, after having believed, they identified themselves with Jesus by being immersed in water.

In addition, in the second part of Acts 2:38 the Bible talks about the fact that when Jesus is received by someone, he sends his Spirit to dwell in them.

Watch the Video below and take some time to talk about the person of the Holy Spirit.

Read John 14:15-31. “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

Why not pause and pray that you will be filled with the Spirit as a living part of your life with Jesus?

In the Gospel of Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus talks directly into the subject of baptism.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What are the three commands Jesus gives to his disciples?
1. Make disciples
2. Baptise them
3. Teach them to obey all Jesus commands 

According to this passage the first marker of being a disciple is to be baptised. Therefore, we should be baptised because firstly Jesus tells us to do it. These days just because someone tells us to do something doesn't mean we do it, in fact in a world where we are taught and encouraged to ask questions it is legitimate to ask why Jesus makes such a big deal out of Baptism? Well he had a really good reason for making this one of the first steps his disciples take and that is that Baptism is like signing on the bottom line for Jesus.

In much the same way a marriage ceremony is where a couple sign on the bottom line to make a commitment to each other Baptism is where we make a commitment to Jesus. While in marriage the couple love each other and are committed to each other - but until they stand together in public and make their vows and hear the pronouncement, they are not legally married.  The ceremony is not simply an outward show - it is the vehicle whereby the intention of the heart is made legal reality. Baptism is the same- it is where the intention of the heart is made a reality.

The gospel is offered in good faith.  How may we respond to such an offer?  -  by faith and the act of baptism. You need to sign on the bottom line and formalise this agreement and the way Jesus has given us to do this is through the act of baptism.
Jesus says 'Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' - Matthew 28:19
There are no other ‘extra’ things Jesus' disciples need to do. To be baptised signals their allegiance to and trusting obedience in Jesus.

1. Jesus is Lord
Read Romans 10:9 - If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

We don’t live in a country that has ‘lords’ but we do have elected leaders. However, Paul, who wrote these words, did. In particular, the Roman Caesar was known by many titles including ‘Lord’. To declare that Jesus was the one true lord of heaven and earth was to make a potentially dangerous claim: that all other authorities were subservient to Jesus being this world’s Lord and King. To believe that Jesus is lord of heaven and earth is to have accepted that he is lord of your life.

Many people might declare Jesus as 'saviour' but it's important to understand that the people in the New Testament didn’t teach that Jesus was 'saviour' they taught that He was King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they asked you to respond to His Lordship. That is what you are about to do.

Do you confess that Jesus is your Lord and king?

Is he the lord of your life?

2. Jesus rose from the dead
Read Matthew 28:1-10 - After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." 

The Greek world of Paul’s day didn’t care too much for resurrection. Many thought an afterlife was where the ‘good’ part of you went, that is, your soul. However, the Jews thought differently. Many believed that there would come a time when God would establish his kingdom on this earth. The upshot of this was that they believed that matter (atoms and material particles) really mattered to God, including our bodies! That Jesus rose from the dead proved two things. First, that he has all authority, even over death. Second, that a physical resurrection meant God was beginning to restore his world by eliminating the unwelcome powers from it. This included the power of sin        
AND death.

Do you believe that Jesus rose to new life?
 
How have you arrived at this conviction?

3. I want to follow Him all the days of my life.
Read Mark 1:16-20 - As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

According to the New Testament Jesus called people to follow him. But this was not just the case in the New Testament it is clear that Jesus still issues that same invitation to us today. In New Testament times to follow someone wasn't just follow the directions or like follow the recipe when baking a cake or even just do as I do. To follow Jesus means to follow his works, his words and his ways. It means to see what Jesus did and act the way he acted - or treat people the way he treated them. It means to read his words and put them into practise. But it also means to look at the ways of Jesus and imitate what he did.  Obviously keeping in mind that this is a process that takes a lifetime the question that is asked at the time of your baptism is will you follow him?  

Will you follow him all the days of your life?

It means you are part of God's new eternal family
Read Galatians 3:23-29 - Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,  for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Here, baptism reflects that you are identifying with Jesus and his newly established movement. That movement is likened to being a member, or part of, God’s eternal family. Other words like adoption, reconciliation and being saved are also used to describe what God has done through his Son, but they have a slightly different meaning.

Baptism initiates people into God’s new family the church – which is the body of Jesus here on earth.
In going through the water of baptism we therefore declare that in Jesus we are reconciled to God and are now part of his new family.

It signals that our lives are bound to Jesus
Read Galatians 3:27 -   For all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

In verse 27 when it says that you have been baptised ‘into’ Christ it means that now your life is woven eternally into his. The phrase ‘in Christ’ describes that reality. When someone is ‘in Christ’ it means that what is true of Jesus becomes true for them. If Jesus defeated sin, sin is defeated over that person. If Jesus rose from the dead, it means that they will one day rise from the dead. If Jesus is with the Father, it means that one day they will be with God the father also. You are now  ‘in Christ.

1. It's like putting a wedding ring on
Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward experience and conviction.
When people marry, they wear a ring to reflect the committed love they have toward their partner. Baptism is like a ring. The ring doesn’t make someone love - it symbolises the love they already have.

2. It's like taking a bath
Read Acts 22:16 - And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on his name.
Here, Paul describes both his conversion experience and a subsequent conversation he has with a believer called Ananias. Ananias describes baptism in terms that describe being washed clean. This is why baptism is like taking a bath. It represents the ‘washing away of sins’.  But remember, it is not baptism that does the washing – Jesus has washed our sins through the blood he shed on the cross – but rather it illustrates what he has done for us.
Baths are for washing off dirt and grime. They are about making you clean. With Jesus, because he paid the penalty on the cross for our sin, he can clean us on the inside. I guess it’s like taking a spiritual bath. He makes people new and he does this by washing them clean from the stain of sin.
Through the water we declare that in Jesus we are forgiven, washed clean and made right with God.

3. It's like dying and coming back to life 
Read Romans 6:1-8 - What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? 4 We were therefore 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. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 

In a way Paul describes baptism as being like a funeral with a happy ending. When we go under the water it represents identifying ourselves with Jesus’ death. When we come up out of the water it represents coming to new life just like Jesus came alive to God.

Writing your story - some helpful hints
There are some essential but basic elements to writing your story. But is essence your story should begin with how you first learned about Jesus. For some people this will involve saying that you grew up in a Christian home - if that is your story say that. However, for others there have most likely been people, events or life circumstances that have led you to this point in your walk with Jesus. It may have been that you got to this point in your journey with Jesus by reading the Bible, doing a course or by going to Youth Group, Young Adults or even church - if it was be sure to include that.

The second part of your story should include what led you to decide to trust in Jesus. This may mean that you talk about the fact that you may have heard talks at church, youth or Young Adults or even podcasts and the like. It may be that as you think about this what comes to mind is a life circumstance, situation or a friend who helped you read the Bible, prayed for you, pointed you in a particular direction or gave you a prompt to do something. Whatever happened, who ever was involved and when it happened is always good to include.

Thirdly it is important to talk about the difference Jesus is making to your life and what it means to you follow him. Sometimes this involves what you have learned or experienced, what has changed in you and perhaps even how it happened. But it also means you get to talk about what it means to follow him each day, knowing that we are all on a journey and none of us are perfect and so this part of your story should help people know what it means to you to have given your life over to him to be your leader lord and king and to follow him all the days of your life.

What NOT to write
There are a number of things to keep at the forefront of your mind as you write your story. Often people find it helpful to ask questions of their story as they write. For example ask yourself, Is my story honouring to people who will hear it? Is my story about Jesus and his impact on your life? Does it point people to Jesus? Is my story pushing a barrow or a button for people as they listen? Are there words, terms or is there language or 'in jokes' that people will hear and not understand? Does the story I am telling impact someone else? Lastly it is important to keep in mind that even though this may be 'your truth,' will what you are saying be hurtful to another person?

It is always helpful to have someone read over your story - and so send it through before the day of your baptism so we can ensure you've covered what is suggested above. But more than that we can ensure that your story is pointing people to Jesus and what he has done and is continuing to do in you.

Watch the video below to see what your story could be like.