Baptism 2
The life of faith encompasses several events and moments that we journey through multiple times during the course of a lifetime. The devotion below by Pastor Nate is part of an ongoing series that explores these central themes of Christian doctrine.
In our baptism we become a part of God’s grand story that has been unfolding since the beginning of creation. Out of love, God claims us as Children and makes us heirs to God’s promises; promises that have been made to God’s people for millennia.”
– Rev. Matthew Nickoloff
The Bible is filled with stories of God rescuing God’s people from death, from famine, from slavery, from war, from sin, etc. etc.
While all these stories are powerful in their own right, it’s also valuable to note that often times these stories include the presence of water. God saved Noah and his family from the waters of the flood. God led the Israelites through the Red Sea when they were finally freed from slavery in Egypt. While wandering in the wilderness, God brought forth water from a rock to help sustain the people on their way. The beginning of Jesus’ public ministry occurred at his baptism, when the heaven’s opened and a voice proclaimed him to be God’s Beloved Son.
The ritual of baptism that we still practice today is the continuation of these stories. It is another example of God using water to bring salvation to an individual. The story is not over! God’s saving work will continue as the Holy Spirit works in and through the life of the newly baptized person.
The life of faith encompasses several events and moments that we journey through multiple times during the course of a lifetime. The devotion below by Pastor Nate is part of an ongoing series that explores these central themes of Christian doctrine.
In our baptism we become a part of God’s grand story that has been unfolding since the beginning of creation. Out of love, God claims us as Children and makes us heirs to God’s promises; promises that have been made to God’s people for millennia.”
– Rev. Matthew Nickoloff
The Bible is filled with stories of God rescuing God’s people from death, from famine, from slavery, from war, from sin, etc. etc.
While all these stories are powerful in their own right, it’s also valuable to note that often times these stories include the presence of water. God saved Noah and his family from the waters of the flood. God led the Israelites through the Red Sea when they were finally freed from slavery in Egypt. While wandering in the wilderness, God brought forth water from a rock to help sustain the people on their way. The beginning of Jesus’ public ministry occurred at his baptism, when the heaven’s opened and a voice proclaimed him to be God’s Beloved Son.
The ritual of baptism that we still practice today is the continuation of these stories. It is another example of God using water to bring salvation to an individual. The story is not over! God’s saving work will continue as the Holy Spirit works in and through the life of the newly baptized person.
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