BAPTISM !!

It was 1961 and I was 11. Into the waters of baptism I was immersed---at least 3 times I think, once for each member of the Holy Trinity. The First Christian Church of Levittown, Pennsylvania didn’t have a baptistery, so we borrowed the Baptist Church that night. I don’t recall feeling a lot different afterward, only wet. Nevertheless, that event 46 years ago has been more meaningful than nearly every other event in my life.

Last month my husband decided it was time to take that step himself. Prior to his baptism he gave a short testimony. It was a special event and I continue to be more and more aware of the Gospel and the grace of our Lord.

Jim's Testimony

I was baptized as an infant in Tyler, Texas, the result of tradition and my Mother’s love for me. I have not wrestled seriously with the issue of “believer’s baptism” until now, although I’ve thought about it on numerous occasions – usually observing other adults being baptized. The pastor’s recent teaching on sacraments stirred my spirit.

I spent much of my adult life in a church that teaches infant baptism. Yet, when Josh preached about adult members of Covenant Life being baptized even if they had been baptized as infants and then I read the material handed out that day which said “if a child was baptized as an unbeliever, this is not a biblical baptism, and he should now be baptized as a believer,” I felt moved to resolve the issue.

This began as a matter of simple obedience – be baptized because the pastors and scriptures have convinced me this should be done. I did consider that I could sit this out, and no one would condemn me, or perhaps even know, except for my family.

But I began to see this more and more as an opportunity. First, to exhibit leadership, obedience, and humility for my family and perhaps others of you who also were baptized as infants and need encouragement. Second, to be reminded of the cleansing of sin that baptism represents. Third, and most important, to publicly proclaim that I was a sinner lost in the abyss of sin and pride until God saved me in the inexpressibly wondrous work of Christ. I have no way of knowing what my life would have been like today without God’s intervention, but I do know this – I am now assured of salvation and am counted among God’s righteous, not on account of anything I have done, but due solely to Christ’s death and resurrection.

Hallelujah! What a savior!