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Thinking of that perfect job?
Have you spoken to a recruitment agent who specializes in that area?
What will it take to get that job? Another degree? Some extra specialization courses? Practical experience in certain fields of study that my current job is not offering?
To climb the ladder of success in your work you have to jump a few hurdles.
Why would it be different in attaining salvation through Jesus Christ?
Let’s have a look at another prerequisite for salvation; faith.
Verse for Today:
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” – Colossians 2:9-12 NIV
We know that the Jews had to undergo circumcision to become part of God’s family and to recognized as part of the Jewish nation.
There is a circumsision you need to undergo to get rid of the self ruled by the flesh, a circumcision done by Jesus Christ himself.
How does that happen?
The verse says you have to be buried in baptism.
What is that all about?
We remember from the previous study that baptism is a spiritual participation in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Why is crucial here; the raising part?Iit is that prerequisite we were talking about.
You are raised through your faith! Not someone elses faith like your parents or your spiritual friend who is really excited for you to get baptised.
Faith means you trust the person you entrust yourself with.
Here you need to understand what happens at baptism to get baptised.
If you do not understand what happens spiritually at baptism you are merely taking a swim.
So unless you believe that your sins are forgiven and you receive the Holy Spirit a baptism, your baptism is null and void.
Why is this important?
The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6)
To go to heaven we need to please God. So that is why it is soooo important!!!
So the question here is did you have faith in what happens at baptism?
For me, I got baptized as a baby which means nothing according to our study because I did not have faith and could not be a disciple. I also got baptised as an adult because I believed it is the right thing to do, not really believing what happens at baptism. You can say I believed I need to do the right thing, but doing the right thing without believing is useless. It is like believing the diet makes you loose weight but not believing you should change your lifestyle about what you are eating. I believe that is why diets don’t work for the majority of people.
Then finally I believed in what happens at baptism and got baptised.
May this be true for you today!
Prayer for Today:
Lord this might seem like and insignificant point but I know that it totally defines my faith. Help me to get baptised for the forgiveness of my sins and to receive the Holy Spirit. I know that my sinful nature gets taken away at baptism and I become a part of God’s family. What an exciting proposition to have for my future and eternity! Amen!
Next Study – Fake News – Page 1 of 6
