The necessity of baptism and assurance of salvation
Matthew 3:17 “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Each year just about all of us observe an anniversary of our birth – we call it our birthday – the day we were born and entered the world.
I’m wondering how many of us observe an even more important anniversary – our baptism day – the day that most of us entered the kingdom of God and became a child of God.
Our Bible verse for this week is some of the words of God the Father at the baptism of his Son, Jesus.
Our baptism was necessary for us to come to faith, have our sins forgiven and become a child of God.
Jesus’ baptism was necessary for a much different purpose. It was part of Jesus perfectly doing everything his Father asked him to do to be our Savior and also it served as Jesus’ commissioning or installation to begin his earthly ministry.
When we understand that, we can much more understand and appreciate the words of God the Father in our Bible verse for this week. God the Father was telling the world and assuring us that he approved of and accepted the work his Son was undertaking as our Savior. That is a great assurance to us that our status as children of God through our Baptism is rock solid. It is also a reassurance that there is no doubt our sins are forgiven and our place in heaven is secure.
Very likely you’ve had your earthly Father tell you “I promise you and I assure you….”. You know how much those words mean or meant to you. How much more does it mean to hear words of assurance from our heavenly Father! You are my child! I love you and care for you more than you know! I want you to have no doubts that you will be with me in heaven one day!
Friends, live each day of your life with the confidence of those words from your heavenly Father!