The Meaning and Significance of Baptism in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus’ Life, Miracles, and Historical Reality

Jesus’ life was marked by mighty works, wonders, and signs that were witnessed by many, making his ministry a matter of public record and not just private faith. The people of Jerusalem saw firsthand the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the hungry fed, and even the dead raised—miracles that could not be denied in their small, close-knit communities. These acts were not only demonstrations of compassion but also foretastes of the kingdom of God, showing that God’s power was breaking into a broken world. The reality of Jesus’ miracles invites us to see that faith in him is rooted in historical events, not just spiritual ideas. [28:39]

Acts 2:22-24 (ESV)
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

Reflection: What is one miracle or teaching of Jesus that stands out to you as evidence of his reality, and how might you share that with someone who is skeptical today?

Day 2: God’s Plan and the Meaning of the Cross

Jesus’ death was not a tragic accident but the fulfillment of God’s definite plan to restore a broken relationship between humanity and God. Even as Jesus was crucified by lawless men, it was God’s loving purpose that Jesus would willingly lay down his life, taking on our rebellion and sin, and in exchange giving us his righteousness and perfect relationship with the Father. The cross is the ultimate act of love, where Jesus repairs what was lost in the beginning, offering us forgiveness and a new start. This truth means that no matter our past, God’s plan is to bring us home through Christ’s sacrifice. [32:10]

Acts 2:23-24 (ESV)
“This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust that God’s plan—even when it looks painful or confusing—can bring about redemption and new life?

Day 3: Repentance, Baptism, and New Life in Christ

The call to “repent and be baptized” is an invitation to turn from living for ourselves and to embrace Jesus as Lord, receiving forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Baptism symbolizes dying to our old ways and rising into a new life, empowered by God’s Spirit to live in the fullness and purpose for which we were created. This is not just a ritual but a declaration that we belong to Jesus, that we are cleansed, and that we now live under his loving reign. The fullness of life is found in surrendering to Christ and walking in obedience to him. [35:53]

Acts 2:37-39 (ESV)
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to “die to self” and let Jesus be Lord today?

Day 4: The Fullness of Life and Purpose in Christ

Life lived under the lordship of Jesus is not restrictive but is actually the way to true fullness, joy, and purpose. God’s commands and direction are for our best, and we are most at home when we are in relationship with him, living out the design for which we were made. The world offers many empty pursuits, but only in Christ do we find the satisfaction and meaning our hearts long for. As we walk with Jesus, we experience the abundant life he promised, filled with hope, peace, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. [33:45]

John 10:10 (ESV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Reflection: Where are you tempted to seek fulfillment apart from Christ, and how can you intentionally pursue the fullness of life he offers this week?

Day 5: The Ongoing Work of the Holy Spirit and Growing in Faith

The journey of faith does not end at baptism; it is the beginning of a lifelong process of growing in maturity, depending on God, and being transformed by the Holy Spirit. God promises to be with us, to protect and strengthen us, especially as we face challenges and opposition. As we continue to trust in Jesus and rely on the Spirit, we are empowered to bear fruit, to stand firm in our identity, and to abound in hope no matter what comes our way. [38:52]

Romans 15:13 (ESV)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide you in a specific challenge you are facing this week?

Sermon Summary

Today is a day of deep joy and significance as we witness the baptisms of Anwen, Chelsea, Quentin, and Andrew. These moments are not just meaningful for them, but for all of us as a church family, as we remember the heart of our faith and the power of God’s work among us. We turned to Acts 2, where Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, stands before a crowd in Jerusalem and boldly proclaims the reality of Jesus—his life, his miracles, his death, and his resurrection. Peter reminds the people that these events were not distant myths, but recent, public, and witnessed by many. Jesus’ miracles were not hidden; they were seen by whole communities, and his resurrection was attested by hundreds.

The brokenness of our world is not how God intended things to be. In the beginning, creation was perfect, and our relationship with God was whole. But when humanity chose to reject God’s lordship, that relationship was fractured, and brokenness entered the world. Yet God, in his love, refused to leave us in that state. He sent Jesus, not just to give us glimpses of heaven, but to bring the reality of God’s kingdom into our lives. Jesus’ death was not a tragic accident, but the very plan of God to repair what was broken. On the cross, Jesus took our rebellion and sin, and in exchange, he offers us his righteousness and restored relationship with the Father.

The resurrection is the ultimate victory—not just for Jesus, but for all who trust in him. It means that death and sin no longer have the final word. Through faith, we are raised to new life with Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in the fullness and purpose for which we were created. Baptism is a powerful symbol of this reality: dying to our old selves and rising to new life in Christ. It is a public declaration that Jesus is Lord, and that we are committing to follow him, trusting in his faithfulness even as we stumble along the way.

For those who are still considering these things, the invitation is open: take a Bible, read the Gospels, and see for yourself the beauty and truth of Jesus. God’s love is not distant or abstract—it is personal, generous, and life-changing. Today, as we celebrate these baptisms, we are reminded that there is no better decision than to follow Jesus and to live in the hope, joy, and peace that only he can give.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus’ life and resurrection are historical realities The events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are not distant legends, but well-attested historical facts. Peter’s bold proclamation to the crowd was rooted in eyewitness testimony, and the early church was built on the certainty of these events. Our faith is not wishful thinking, but grounded in what God has truly done in history. [27:13]
2. God’s plan is to restore what is broken The brokenness we see in the world is the result of humanity’s rejection of God, but God’s response is not abandonment. Instead, he enters into our world through Jesus, bringing healing, restoration, and the promise of new life. The cross is not a defeat, but the very means by which God repairs our relationship with him. [30:47]
3. Baptism is a declaration of new life in Christ Baptism is not just a ritual, but a profound symbol of dying to self and rising to new life in Jesus. It is a public commitment to live under Christ’s lordship, trusting in his forgiveness and the power of the Holy Spirit. This act marks the beginning of a journey of faith, rooted in God’s grace and sustained by his presence. [35:53]
4. The fullness of life is found in following Jesus True purpose and fulfillment are not found in chasing after empty things, but in living in relationship with God. Jesus offers us not just forgiveness, but the fullness of life—joy, peace, and hope—through the Holy Spirit. As we surrender to him, we discover the life we were created for. [38:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[22:28] - Introduction to Baptism and Testimonies
[23:01] - Invitation to Read the Bible
[23:41] - The Birth of the Church in Acts
[24:28] - Reading Acts 2:22-24
[25:37] - Prayer and Thanksgiving
[26:05] - Peter’s Bold Proclamation
[27:13] - Eyewitnesses to Jesus’ Miracles
[29:17] - The Brokenness of the World
[30:47] - God’s Plan in Jesus’ Death
[32:10] - The Great Exchange: Our Sin for Christ’s Righteousness
[33:23] - Jesus’ Victory Over Death
[34:09] - The Crowd’s Response: “What Shall We Do?”
[35:53] - The Meaning of Baptism
[37:31] - Invitation to Respond and Receive New Life
[38:52] - Prayer for the Baptism Candidates
[39:53] - Testimonies and Baptisms
[57:30] - Worship and Baptism Preparation
[70:21] - Baptism of Andrew
[80:03] - Closing Prayers and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 2:22-24, 36-39 (ESV) —
> 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

> 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Observation Questions

According to Peter’s sermon in Acts 2, what evidence does he give that Jesus’ life and resurrection were real, public events? ([27:13])
What does Peter say was the reason for Jesus’ death? Was it an accident or part of God’s plan? ([30:47])
What does baptism symbolize, based on the explanation given in the sermon? ([35:53])
How did the crowd respond to Peter’s message, and what did Peter tell them to do next? ([34:09])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important that Peter points out the miracles and resurrection of Jesus as things witnessed by many people? How does this affect the way we view our faith? ([27:13])
The sermon says that the world’s brokenness is not how God intended things to be. How does Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection address this brokenness? ([29:17])
Baptism is described as dying to self and rising to new life in Christ. What does it mean, practically, to “die to self” and “live for Jesus”? ([35:53])
The sermon invites those who are still considering faith to “take a Bible, read the Gospels, and see for yourself.” Why do you think personal investigation is encouraged, and how might it change someone’s view of Jesus? ([38:10])

Application Questions

Peter’s message was rooted in eyewitness testimony and real events. How does knowing that our faith is based on historical reality affect your confidence in following Jesus? Are there doubts or questions you still wrestle with? ([27:13])
The sermon talked about the brokenness in our world and in our own lives. Where do you see brokenness in your own life or in the world around you? How does the message of Jesus bring hope to those areas? ([29:17])
Baptism is a public declaration of faith and a commitment to follow Jesus. If you have been baptized, what did that moment mean to you? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about it? ([35:53])
The sermon said that following Jesus means surrendering to his lordship, even though we will stumble along the way. What are some areas of your life where it’s hard to let Jesus be Lord? What would it look like to trust him more in those areas? ([37:05])
The fullness of life is found in following Jesus, not in chasing after empty things. Are there things in your life that you tend to chase after for fulfillment? How can you shift your focus toward the hope, joy, and peace that Jesus offers? ([38:10])
The invitation was given to “take a Bible, read the Gospels, and see for yourself.” Is there someone in your life who might benefit from this invitation? How could you encourage them to explore faith for themselves? ([38:10])
The sermon mentioned that baptism is just the beginning of a journey of faith. What are some practical steps you can take this week to grow in your relationship with God and live out your faith more fully? ([37:31])

Sermon Clips

Jesus would go to a village. And in that village, there would be people who were maybe blind or they couldn't walk. And their whole life, they'd been like that. Now, you know, Lossy Mouth is a small community. Everybody knows everybody. It was even more so in those days and even smaller villages in those days. And so you would know these guys aren't just charlatans. You'd have seen the way that you had to help them and you had to seek out ways to get alongside and the way the family had to come around the person. And one day, Jesus would arrive at the village. And he would say to the person, Receive your sight. And the person would receive their sight. He'd say, Get up and walk. And the person would get up and walk. He'd take just a few loaves like your rollies. And he'd just take a few sardines and he'd feed 5 ,000 people in front of everyone. And he even would go to those who were already dead. And he would say, Come out. Or get up. And they would get up and walk. So Peter stands before this crowd and says, Listen, you yourselves know. Many of you have seen Jesus do these miracles and these works yourself. This is who Jesus is. [00:27:44] (79 seconds)

And so you would know these guys aren't just charlatans. You'd have seen the way that you had to help them and you had to seek out ways to get alongside and the way the family had to come around the person. And one day, Jesus would arrive at the village. And he would say to the person, Receive your sight. And the person would receive their sight. He'd say, Get up and walk. And the person would get up and walk. He'd take just a few loaves like your rollies. And he'd just take a few sardines and he'd feed 5,000 people in front of everyone. [00:28:02] (37 seconds) #BrokenWorldGodRestores

And he even would go to those who were already dead. And he would say, Come out. Or get up. And they would get up and walk. So Peter stands before this crowd and says, Listen, you yourselves know. Many of you have seen Jesus do these miracles and these works yourself. This is who Jesus is. And I want to tell you, there's something wonderful. We're symbolizing today as we come to baptism. But Jesus was symbolizing too. You see, there was a recognition that the world is broken. [00:28:39] (33 seconds) #JesusBringsHeavenHere

When God first made, and we've been working through the beginning of the first book called Genesis. And we're looking at how when God made creation, everything was perfect. And we were in perfect relationship with him. And everything was good. And at the very end, God says it was very good. When God says it's very good, you know it's very good. But that relationship was broken. When we decided we didn't want God to be Lord over us. We wanted to be Lord of our own lives. And we rejected him. [00:29:12] (29 seconds) #GodsPlanNotChaos

``And because we rejected him. And we rejected his goodness. And his love. And his faithfulness. The world today is the way it is because of that. And so when Jesus came and he gave sight to someone who was blind, it was like a taste of heaven. And when he took what was impossible to feed the 5,000 with and then fed the 5,000, he was saying, listen, God is an abundant God who loves to give to you. And he was even coming and saying the greatest sign of sin is death itself. And he was even showing that he had power over death by raising them back to life. [00:29:41] (36 seconds) #JesusSacrificeOurHope

Jesus doesn't just give us a taste of this future kingdom. He brings the kingdom with him. You see, because he lived a perfect life, the life that none of us could ever live. And then he willingly, like a sacrifice, laid down his life on the cross. He willingly died in our place. And so here's the worst deal that has ever been made, and the best deal that's ever been made. Jesus says, I tell you what, I'll take all of your rebellion, all of your sin, all of your mess. In return, I'll give you all my righteousness, and I'll give you that perfect relationship with God the Father, and I'll give you all my obedience. [00:31:32] (47 seconds) #NewLifeInChrist

So when God the Father sees you, he only sees you in the goodness and the righteousness and the perfection of his only son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, why would you make that deal? I bought a car recently. I was trying to get every penny I could out of that guy, and a bit more. I was like weighing the petrol practically, coming to the, that's at least worth a fiver, come on. Jesus says, I'm going to give you everything, because I love you, because you can't do it, but I can. I willingly do it. And he laid down his life. [00:32:18] (41 seconds) #FaithfulLifeWithJesus

Not the Jews, not the Romans. No, Jesus himself says, I willingly lay down my life for you so that this broken relationship can be repaired, so that you can know God as Lord in your life. Verse 24, God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. This is Jesus' victory. It's not just his victory over death. It's his victory for you. That as Jesus rises from the dead, he raises us with him. So that everyone who believes in him doesn't just get to see the goodness of God, but gets to experience it in our own lives. [00:32:58] (42 seconds) #ChooseFullnessNotEmpty

We get to experience life to the fullest as God is Lord over us. Because what he wants for us is actually for our best. What he directs us to live by is actually the best way to live life, and it's fullness. That's Christianity in a nutshell. And if you still get your Bibles open, just look at that little number 37. Something wonderful happens. When they heard this, they were cut to the heart. And they said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? That's a great question for you to ask this morning. [00:33:41] (37 seconds)

This is an historical reality. Jesus really did live. He really did die on the cross. And within about 15 to 20 years, we have the earliest recording written down of people testifying that there was over 500 witnesses to his resurrection. This happened. People weren't thick in those days. They understood dead people don't get up. But 500 of them said, we saw Jesus with our own eyes. Some of them touched him with their own hands. They heard him with their own ears. Jesus defeats death. Jesus defeats sin. [00:34:19] (40 seconds)

Take a Bible, think through that reality of what it means for you to repent and be baptized. Take a Bible and realize that God loves you and sent his only son, that you might also receive that fullness of life, that purpose that you are made for. Not to chase after empty things, but to chase the fullness of God who longs to give you his fullness to dwell within you. [00:38:05] (28 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the significance of baptism in Christian faith?

How does Jesus' resurrection demonstrate victory over death?

What does it mean to live in the fullness of life with Christ?