Our church had a business meeting today to announce that the church must vote to sell off our campus. After attending that church, watching the church build an education building, and having my son enriched by attending preschool there, it is sad to see this turn of events. On the other hand, a church is really the “body of Christ,” the people in the congregation and those in leadership. It is not a single building, or even a campus, that defines a church. With prayerful guidance, the church will move on and everyone will adjust.
Another life decision, that also means change but offers great benefits, is baptism. Along with salvation, baptism can change a person’s life. It is a Biblically-based concept.
“When you came to Christ, you were ‘circumcised,’ but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure–the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.”
Colossians 2:11-12
“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 6:4
“Peter replied, ‘Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church–about three thousand in all.”
Acts 2:38
Is baptism and accepting Christ something that gets the attention of those in Heaven? Jesus explained it to the Pharisees this way:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Luke 15:4-7
