REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT 

 

            A reaffirmation of one’s baptism to me means an opportunity to examine our lives and evaluate our relationship with God.  Reaffirming one’s baptism should not be viewed as just another ritual in a long line of rituals.  It is a chance to refocus and recommit our lives to Christ.  By refocusing I mean, sometimes we have to remind ourselves of whose we are.

I COR. 6:19-20 – We who are saved have been bought with a price and therefore are not our own.  We do not belong to ourselves.  Colossians 3:3 tells us that our lives are hidden in Christ.  As we stand to reaffirm our baptism, we should be reminded of the price that was paid for our salvation.  1 Peter 1:18-19 - For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  As we stand today there are those who might take this opportunity to refocus.

          There are others who might see this as an opportunity to recommit themselves to Christ.  Though sin is a reason to recommit oneself, it is not the only reason.

REV. 2:2-4 – This church was doing all the right stuff.  They hated evil, purged sin from their mist.  They worked for God and endured hard times.  Yet God said they had forgotten their first love.  The excitement that you experience when you first get saved, that initial fire and that driving, burning desire to know all that you could find out about God had gone out in them. Some today may fill that they are lacking that fire that they first felt and they want to recommit, asking God to restore that driving desire to know him personally.

2 Kings 22:8-13 – At this point the Children of Israel were off-track.  Over the years they had lost the scrolls containing the law.  The people were trying to follow God with out the benefit of understanding what God required.  When God’s Word was rediscovered, they found out that they were off track.  Finding out their mistake, the king called the people together to hear the reading of the law, to confess their sin and to commit themselves to following God.  They were off track but recommitted themselves to getting back on tract.  There may be those among us today who like Israel find yourself off track and would like today to take advantage of the opportunity to get back on track.

          Another reason some might want to recommit themselves to God is that they have again become entangled in a life of sin and thus need to confess and recommit themselves to Christ.  We can find many examples of this throughout the history of Israel.   So there are a variety of reasons why one might want to reaffirm through baptism their commitment to God.  Whatever your reason  today, as we stand participating in the reaffirmation of baptism, do not see this as just another ritual, but take the time to evaluate your life and your relationship with God.   Do not see this as merely having your head sprinkled with water, but rather as firming up the commitment you previously made with God.  As we stand today, we should recommit ourselves to:

1.     Prayer – I Thess. 5:17 encourages Christian to pray without ceasing.  This means we should always have a prayerful attitude.  Prayer should be an intricate part of our daily lives.  It is through prayer that we communicate with God, receive our instructions, strength and help to continue our walk with God.

2.     Reading and studying God’s Word – 2 Tim. 2:15 says that we should “study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing or understanding the word of truth.” Why is it important to read and study the Word?  Because 2 Tim. 3: 15 says the “scriptures are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness; that the man of God  may be perfect or matured , thoroughly furnished or equipped  to do good works.”

3.     Active Christian living - 2 Peter 1:5-9  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 

4.     Introducing others to Christ - 1 Peter 3:15   But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.   Romans 1:16    For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.   2 Cor. 4:3-4  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5.     Seeking and accepting God’s will - Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.   John 4:34  Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

6.     Exalting God - Psalm 99:5  Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.   1 Cor. 6:20  For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.   1 Cor. 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

If we commit to praying, reading and studying God’s word, active Christian living, introducing others to Christ, seeking and accepting God’s will and exalting God, we can then with joy and thanksgiving praise God in spirit and in truth. 

Psalm 33:1  Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.