Bible reading: Genesis 44-46; Matthew 26:1-25
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”– Acts 2:38.
Peter was responding to a desperate question from a newly convicted crowd of “what shall we do” after they were pricked in their hearts by the powerful message of the Gospel of Christ by Peter. Passionate and powerful preaching will have the effect of making the hearers aware of their sin and their great need for a Savior, it takes the work of God on a heart and the power of the Holy Spirit to be saved.
To repent means to turn away from your sins and go towards God and His righteousness. It is not enough to say you believe but then refuse to change. Repentance is saying to God that you are sorry for what you have done and that you want to be different by changing your ways to please God.
To be baptized means to be immerse in water in expression of faith and identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” – Romans 6:3-4.
In the gospels, Jesus sent his disciples out to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an outward sign of our confession before the church. It symbolizes the faith and declaration that follows salvation. To refuse baptism is an expression or a sign that someone is unrepentant.
Repentance and baptism are the proper responses when one finds themselves convicted and able to believe in Jesus and his death for him on the cross. It is only when we are born again, that we can see the Kingdom of God “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3, and will feel the urge to call on the name of the Lord to be saved “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.
At the same time, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to help the believer’s live a holy and pleasing life towards God. God makes a home in our newly regenerated spirit by His Holy Spirit to encourage, empower, and keep safe until the return of Christ or until we sleep to go and be with God in heaven.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the grace of repentance and following you through baptism by the help of the Holy Spirit.