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Baptism

In Mark's Gospel, there's nothing about Jesus before his baptism. That's one reason why it's easy for us to view baptism as a new beginning. In our baptism, we're marked and identified as Christian disciples.

We're baptized into a family. That's why we call each other "Brother" and "Sister." We all come through baptism into the Body of Believers.

But let's be honest, baptism is not our work, it's God's. Baptism is an outward sign of something that has already happened in our heart. God searches for us, finds us, chooses us, and adopts us as his sons and daughters.

But baptism is not the end. Martin Luther often said that baptism is a lifelong process. Our baptism is a reminder that our faith has a social element. Christianity is a social religion.

Back in November, we looked at the membership and baptism vows we took. We promised to be "Christ's representatives in the world."

In Mark 1:9-11, we see "heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending" on Jesus. This is an epiphany--a realization of who Jesus is, but also of who we are. After his baptism, Jesus began his public ministry. Baptism, for us, is also a call to serve. Yes, by baptism the whole church is called to ministry.


If you'd like to read more about the official United Methodist Church's view on baptism, you can find that here.

Blessings,
AK

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