Today I got Baptized, and let me tell you it was great. I have never felt so alive in my life.  I came out to Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve. Sin City, the City of Lights and all that.  Well let me tell you out here there is so much more then the Strip. A lot more, and on of the things that I have found out here is the Church and Faith in Jesus Christ. Well over the last few months I have found myself growing more and more of needing something, anything but a glimmer of life. I found that life in Church. So after months of feeling God tapping me on the shoulders to come back to him, in todays sermon

I felt not a tap but a sledge hammer hitting me. So I got up and after the sermon I asked to be Baptized.

What is baptism?
An expression of faith:
Baptism does not make you a believer. It is simply an obedient response and expression of your faith and commitment to Christ. Every example we see in the Bible demonstrates that first a person comes to believe in Christ then he or she is baptized as an expression of that belief.

An identification:
Baptism is the means by which followers of Christ are identified. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His followers: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

A lifelong commitment:
The Bible makes it very clear that baptism is a part of our commitment to Christ. Additional commitments when you become a Christian include:

• Realizing your need for Christ (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
• Putting your faith in Christ (John 3:16)
• Turning from your sins (Acts 2:38)
• Verbalizing your trust and commitment by confessing Christ (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32)

What is the significance of baptism?
An illustration of Christ’s burial and resurrection:
In Romans 6:1-11, the apostle Paul explains how baptism by immersion identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Going under water signifies Christ’s death and coming up out of the water illustrates His resurrection. Baptism symbolizes your commitment to enthrone Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life.

A symbol of your new life as a Christian:
When you come to faith in Christ, an inner change takes place. Baptism is the outward symbol of the inward commitment you have made to Jesus Christ. It is the first step of obedience in your journey with Jesus and a public statement of your faith. But the waters of baptism do not save you. The Bible tells us we are saved by the mercy and grace of God.

Am I ready for this?
Baptism is for believers:
A believer is someone who has decided to trust Christ alone for salvation. Believers realize that their sin separates them from God and that only Christ’s death on the cross bridges the gap between them and God. If you have come to that point in your spiritual journey, then you are ready to be baptized. It is your way of demonstrating the internal miracle, in an external way, to the outside world.

Why be baptized?
The New Testament offers the following reasons to be baptized:

• To follow Christ’s example (Mark 1:9).
• To follow Christ’s commandment (Matthew 28:19).
• To demonstrate your faith (Acts 18:8).

How are we to be baptized?
The New Testament gives us a clear picture of baptism:

• Jesus was baptized by being immersed in water (Matthew 3:16).
• Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water (Acts 8:38-39).
• The word “baptize” literally means “to dip or immerse under water.”
• It is the best way to illustrate a burial and resurrection.

Who should be baptized?
Every person mature enough to make a personal decision to follow Jesus Christ should be baptized. Baptism follows an individual’s decision to trust Christ alone for salvation (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:47-48).

When should I be baptized?
As soon as you have decided to fully receive Christ into your life and have begun walking in a new direction, you should be baptized (Acts 8:35-38).

So all in all I feel great, I feel that I have now a chance to become the person that God has always wanted me to become. It is a good feeling, a great and warm feeling.  Something that I will not forget.

Thank you,

Anthony