“Who would like to “get all
wet” for Jesus?” Pastor Dick asked in church one Sunday. “We are going to have
a river (creek) baptism. Talk to me after the service if you would like to publicly
confess Jesus as your Savior through baptism.”
Brielle, a brave 12-year-old, walked up to Pastor Dick after church and said, “I do!”
In total, four people responded! Two of the young people had given their lives to Jesus at Christian camps this summer. One was a tween who had wanted to express his faith through river baptism for a couple of years but hadn’t had the opportunity. And one was an adult who Jesus had been working on for a while and who realized at our summer Bible study that yes, he really did believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive his sins!
While there were only six people who got in the water that Sunday, [Dick, Dan (our pastor of Congregational Care), and the four who were baptized] the Spirit also swept through those standing on the bank as witnesses. We felt like cheering and clapping and praising God—so we did!
Romans 10:9 and 10 says, “If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.”
Dick always encourages new Christians to tell someone of the commitment they have made to Jesus. Why? Because it is important to confess our faith for several reasons.
For one thing, it’s what God wants us to do! In Matthew 10:32 Jesus tells us, “Those who declare publicly that they belong to me, I will do the same for them before my Father in heaven.”
Confessing our faith also strengthens our commitment to Jesus. When we tell others we are now following Jesus, they will expect us to act like it! They will hold us accountable—something every Christian needs!
When we express our faith in Jesus’ as our Savior and Lord, we are also telling the world a truth they need to hear! Just a few verses down from our previous verses from Romans 10 we read, “(14) But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?”
While our confession may not involve a dip in a chilly creek, it IS an important part of the Christian walk—important for us and important for others. It is a giant step on our faith journey that lets those around us know where we stand at the crossroads of life and with whom we are walking. So, speak up! Confess your faith!
Be encouraged!
