My Baptism
I was baptised last Sunday on 18 May 2008, and I would really like to thank my friends who had took their valuable time in coming to my baptism ceremony to witness one important event in my life. I would like to give special thanks to my co-blogger, Jot, in coming. He has consistently encouraged, challenged, nagged me to get baptised for the past 4 years ever since I have become a Christian; Rita, another co-blogger (but for a different blog) for setting a nice example to learn off in the lead up to my baptism; Vikki, for still being able to make it at the cost of being late in picking up her mum at the airport that day; Brian, waking up bright and early to ensure the carpool for Jot, Rita and Vikki will be on time. Simon for making every moment of my baptism morning a photographic one; Michelle, for skipping her later service at WS to come; Kit, for waiting for that never-going-to-come weekend train and still managed to come on time; and Lin, waking up in an early Sunday morning and pushing back an appointment to attend. Last but definitely not least, my girlfriend Sharon, for flying all the way from Melbourne, and my parents for being supportive in my decision to get baptised.
Prior to the ceremony, I discovered that there has been a fair few of my friends who regarded baptism as a ceremony that was done while you were young. It was all part of the Christening process. While some churches may do that, the bible records that baptism usually comes after a person has believed in the gospel (Acts 8:12, Acts 8:13, Acts 16:15, Acts 18:8). One will notice that believing in each and one of these verses are seen with greater emphasis than the act of baptising.
Friends have also asked what it feels before and after baptism. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to give them some magical answer that baptism has given me a "spiritual boost". I have explained that while baptism is formal declaration of my faith in Christ, it does not make me a better Christian than I was before I was baptised. It is not a magical ritual that makes a believer suddenly more spiritually stronger. At most, baptism is a commitment to build a stronger relationship with God.
I have explained it by way of an analogy with a marriage. If you love a person, a marriage ceremony itself does not instantaneously make a person love his/her partner more. The love and the relationship is still there. It only marks the commitment and declaration that you are serious about this relationship so it will grow over time.
The submersion of our body into water during baptism is a symbol to bury our old self-centred past to death. The subsequent coming out from the water in baptism mirrors the resurrection of Christ, giving us a new life to follow our Lord Jesus, reconciling our relationship with God.
-- Romans 6:3-53Do you not know that all of us(A) who have been baptized(B) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Thank you everyone for the gifts!
Congratulations! :)
Posted by
Kairi |
10:29 am, June 03, 2008
Congratulations Ivan! that's wonderful, my elder sister will be baptised tomorrow at Burwood Chinese Presbyterian Church by English Minister Rev. Eugene Hor. Eugene grew up at WSCCC, and has been serving at BCPC for roughly 10 years.
http://eugenehor.wordpress.com/
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:01 pm, July 26, 2008
2009/Feb/06 Daily Devotional
Living in Light of Eternity
by Rick Warren
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
*** *** *** ***
Healthy families have family pride; members are not ashamed to be recognized as a part of the family. Sadly, I’ve met many believers who’ve never publicly identified themselves as Jesus commanded – by being baptized.
Baptism is not some optional ritual to be delayed or postponed. It signifies your inclusion in God’s family. It publicly announces to the world, “I am not ashamed to be a part of God’s family.”
Jesus commanded this beautiful act for all in his family: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NIV).
For years I wondered why Jesus’ Great Commission gives the same prominence to baptism as it does to the great tasks of evangelism and edification. Why is baptism so important? Because it symbolizes the second purpose of your life: incorporation into the fellowship of God’s eternal family.
Your baptism declares your faith, shares Christ’s burial and resurrection, symbolizes your death to your old life, and announces your new life in Christ. It is also a celebration of your inclusion in God’s family.
Your baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. It represents what happened the moment God brought you into his family: “Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT).
Baptism doesn’t make you a member of God’s family; only faith in Christ does that; baptism shows you are part of God’s family. Like a wedding ring, it is a visible reminder of an inward commitment made in your heart.
It is an act of initiation, not something you put off until you are spiritually mature. The only biblical condition is that you believe.
The Bible says, “Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11 CEV).
Let that amazing truth sink in!
Because Jesus makes you holy, God is proud of you. Being included in God’s family is the highest honor, the greatest privilege you and I will ever receive. Nothing else comes close. Why not pause right now and thank God that he included you?
“Praise God for the privilege of being in Christ’s family and being called by his wonderful name!” (1 Peter 4:16 LB).
© 2009 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:47 am, February 10, 2009