Why is baptism important?

First, start by reading Luke 3:2-21. 

In ancient Israel John the Baptist dunked people in the Jordan--people who had acknowledged and repented of their sins. Then Jesus came along, and John baptized him. What was going on?

Jesus was the sinless Son of God. When he was baptized, he identified with sinners like us. We are sinners. When we are baptized, we identify with the sinless Son of God. 

We are dunked down into the water; we can't see or hear--it's like we're "dead" to the world. Just like Jesus died. We identify with him in his death. But then we're lifted back up, splooshing to the surface to the cheering of the congregation. Just like God raised Jesus back to life. 

Baptism is how we proclaim to the world that we belong to Christ, the sinless Son of God who died for us and conquered death. It is the symbolic connection point between Jesus' life and ours. That's why it's so important. 

Baptism service at Grace Pointe Plainfield starts Sunday morning at 9. See you there.

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Joel Settecase is the Associate Pastor of Youth and Evangelism at Grace Pointe Plainfield, located at 143rd and Route 30. Sunday's worship service begins at 9AM, and you are invited.