“I (John the Baptist) indeed baptize you with water but He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” Matthew 3:11
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.” Matthew 28:19-20
“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” 1 Peter 3:21
I have now been baptized four times in my life, and I would like to explain why personally that is the case.
The first time was when I was a child. It was fueled by tradition of the Lutheran church. I don’t remember the event, but I can say that as a kid I believed God was real but I had not accepted Him into my heart.
The next time was years later during a mission trip. I remember going into Lake Michigan because that is what everyone else was doing. Once again, I believed but had no inkling of repentence in my mind or my heart as I was dunked and risen back from the water.
The third time was different all together. On October 30th, 2016, I was washed for the first time with a heart that was willing and accepting of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I finally aligned my heart with His and dedicated my life to Him. To serve His will and put down my own or anything the world tries to force on me.
As with any relationship, there are rough patches. There are dry spells that hit hard. In times like these, I know I have misproperly shown Jesus and I am sure it will happen again. As an imperfect man, all I can ask is for forgiveness for these instances and continue in my walk alongside the Creator of the universe for greater refinement. This type of thing is exactly what God spoke into me yesterday during our free day at the lake.
We were all hanging out on the lake playing various games, swimming, and jamming to music for a good portion of the day. One of my squad mates, Kellie, knew that she was going to be baptized and for the first time mentioned to us all that she felt that someone else was meant to be baptized as well. I heard God tell me to listen which I promptly declined because I’ve already been baptized three times as is. Like, really we doing this again!?
Later on I started praying and asked Him for further clarity on what was brought up earlier that day. He told me that this particular moment was comparative to when couples renew their vows later in their marriage. As 1 Peter and Matthew 28 illustrates above, baptism is a show of dedication to our Lord that we choose into Him. Doing that again simply rededicates this posture.
I would like to point out the fact that this isn’t something that is essential to redo. Also, it doesn’t mean that redidcation implies falling out of faith or a lack of true faith. As with a spouse, it means coming to that person again and saying, “I still choose you!” That is exactly what God invited me into yesterday.
He told me, “rededicate your life to Me in this way and enter into a new intimacy with Me that you have yet to witness.” For one, when the Lord of all creation tells you to jump you say how high? No matter how strange the scenery or inopportune the time you follow through with what He asks. Whether you are playing basketball or in a crowded train heading to work, you jump as high as you possibly can. That is true obedience to the Beginning and the End.
Secondly, when you develop a relationship with Him and feel his presence and hear His voice, you will know that all you want is more of Him. The Being that exudes pure love, joy, healing, peace, and grace is inviting you to see more of just that. Why would you deny it? Practically, being baptized four times is excessive and unnecessary, but when it comes to showing tangible redidcation to your Lord and Savior, there is no such thing as being extra. As illustrated in Matthew 3, I have received the Holy Spirit and am continually refined by the fire that He possesses. Even after almost 4 years, I am shocked by the capacity with which He continues to show and teach me.
Therefore, when I knelt in the lake yesterday and looked up to God and said “I do”, it resembles a bride saying she is committed to her husband and willing to love and submit to them all that they have. I don’t have much to offer God but I gladly give my life to the One that has the power to save all so they choose from the fiery torment of Hell.
To this I ask all of you, have you fully dedicated your life to Christ? If not, what is holding you back? If so, what is the jump that He is asking of you that you are unwilling to step into?
