I'm excited about this Sunday for several reasons.  One being that were baptizing several new believers.  The majority of people know what baptism is, but many people aren't exactly sure what baptism represents.  So, today I want to share my thoughts on baptism.

Matthew 3:13-17 
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. [14] But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" [15] Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. [16] As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Jesus is very clear in scripture that we must repent of our sin, ask to be saved and to be baptized.  The above scripture shows us that Jesus came up out of the water, the actual meaning of the word baptism.  Sunday morning several people will be lowered completely under the water and brought up out of the water.  All of this will take place in a horse trough.  It is really cool.

Here is a question that must be addressed.  Does baptism get us into heaven?  I hope not or the thief on the cross didn't make it.  As Jesus and the thief were about to die, Jesus told him, I'll see you today."  The thief was never baptized so obviously baptism doesn't get us to heaven.  Then why get baptized.

First, it is a biblical command form Christ himself.  But, there are prerequisites.  As I mentioned earlier, you must repent and be saved.  If you haven't, your doing nothing more than taking a bath.

Second, it is our public testimony of our new belief in Jesus Christ.  We are lowered into the water as a sorry no good sinner.  As we come out of the water we are a new creation, a child of Christ.  Understand, this is symbolic.
The baptism itself doesn't make us a child of Christ.

Kevin Childs, my former pastor did something one time that I thought was great.  During Vacation Bible School he allowed the children to get into the baptismal at our church.  He showed them that the water has no magical power, in fact it's the same water we flush the toilets with.  Its about our relationship with Jesus.

Kevin was helping the children understand the real meaning of baptism.  So many times people want to get baptized because their buddies are (especially children), or because this will assure them of their ticket to heaven. 
Baptism is all about obeying and following Jesus Christ.