Repent and be Baptised

Throughout the New Testament the ordinance of baptism appears allied to the great change of repentance unto life and all that is associated with that. The story of Pentecost puts it in context. Although the people were religious they were not in Christ (like many today), and when the Spirit convicted them of Jesus' identity and their sin of rejecting him they were desperate. Peter's words were a reply to their cry of despair, 'What shall we do?' We might recognise that cry. If that is our situation we should listen to what Peter said, 'Repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy spirit'. His first command ('Repent') indicated a change of attitude towards Christ, from rejection to faith. his words, 'be baptised' implied identifying with him (c.f. 1 Cor. 10), and accepting him as Lord and Saviour. That is an internal change, but we are whole people and our inner feelings can be expressed. Like marriage, baptism is a public commitment, therefore necessary for membership of the church. It has associations with, forgiveness, entry to God's kingdom, the end of the old life and start of the new, the beginning of the Spirit's work. No one mode can adequately illustrate all of these. The promise was of further work by the Spirit. Since spiritual life develops throughout our natural life we need to be continually filled; the new birth is only the start. We should think back on our baptism often. Assuming it is linked with spiritual change it testifies to God's grace towards us, therefore it encourages us to persevere and grow in the faith.