Faith Matters

1. Seeking for A Meaningful Life?

2. What Does it Mean to Be Born Again?

Have you ever wondered what the phrase "born again" means? The Bible records that Jesus used these words in a conversation with a man named Nicodemus. A respected leader of the Jewish community, Nicodemus was a highly moral man who obeyed God's law. No doubt he was a fine man. Yet something was lacking.

Nicodemus approached Jesus at night, curious about the kingdom of God. Jesus told him, "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3). Nicodemus responded , "How can a man be born again when he is old?" (John 3:4). Like Nicodemus, many people today confuse religion with new birth. Phrases like "I pray regularly" or "I believe there is a God" often are confused with a real new-birth experience. New birth begins with the Holy Spirit's convicting someone that he or she is a sinner.

Because of sin, we are spiritually dead. For this reason, spiritual birth, as Jesus described it, is necessary. God loves us and gives us spiritual birth when we ask Him for it.

The Bible says that all persons are sinners (Romans 3:23). Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead to save sinners. To be "born again" means that a person admits to God that he or she is a sinner, repents of sin, believes in or trusts Jesus, and confesses faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Everyone who believes in (places faith in) Jesus will not perish (John 3:16). Jesus is the only One who can save us (John 14:6).

To believe in Jesus, then, is to be born again. Confess your sins and ask Jesus right now to save you. The Bible tells us that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21).

After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, share your decision with another person. Following Christ's example, ask for baptism by immersion as a public expression of your faith (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:6).

3. Searching for God?

What's the Problem?
Many people seek to fill the God-shaped emptiness within ourselves with pleasure, prosperity, or power, anything but God and yet the emptiness remains.

Why?
Because finite things can never fill an infinite emptiness, the search for fulfillment in life must begin with God. Did you know that there is a God who searches for you?

4. Seeking a Thought for the Day?

(Daily Devotional Links)

5. Searching the Scriptures?

6. What About Believer's Baptism?

Baptism is important for the Christian…

Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." When we love Jesus Christ we want to do what He says. Love and obedience include baptism. Jesus was obedient to the Father, and to fulfill all righteousness was baptized. The disciples were baptized. The early Christians were baptized. In Peter's first sermon after Pentecost he preached saying, "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38) .

Obedience to Jesus Christ is a privilege, a joy, and also a responsibility. More important than our personal ideas about baptism is our Christian commitment to please Jesus Christ. And, Jesus commanded us to be baptized!

Our baptism is a powerful testimony to others.

Biblical baptism is a commitment.
Jesus said, "Whoever acknowledges me before me, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before me, I will disown him before my Father in heaven" (Matthew 10:32, 33) Baptism is a great expression of Christian discipleship.

Biblical baptism involves us with God's people the church.
When we are baptized we are declaring our participation in the body of Christ. There is a mutual responsibility; the individual is responsible to submit to and love the church; and the church is responsible to love and nurture the one baptized.

Biblical baptism is a submissive act.
When we are baptized we are humbly admitting that we are sinners who can't forgive our own sins. We admit we need Jesus Christ as Savior. It is an act of submission to God to be baptized in front of witnesses.
"Therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…" Matthew 28:19

Baptism is a testimony of our conversion to Jesus Christ.
In the Bible, baptism always demonstrates belief in Jesus Christ. In baptism we are telling others that we are now Christians. First comes faith and then comes baptism as an outward symbol of faith. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9); therefore baptism is not necessary for salvation. However, salvation is necessary before baptism.

Baptism is a testimony of the gospel story.
Baptism is a symbolic acting out of the gospel story. Christ died and we are dead to sin through salvation; Christ was buried and we are burying our old sinful life; Christ was raised and we are raised to a new life in Christ.
"Having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12).

When Jesus died, was buried and rose again He was buried in the ground. Baptism is a drama reenacting what Jesus did for us only it is in water and only for a few seconds. That's why we practice baptism by immersion at Ardmore Baptist Church. The Christian is completely immersed in water in order to follow the Bible's practice as closely and meaningfully as possible.

Baptism is a testimony of our identification. The original Bible word (in Greek), baptidzo literally means "to dip, to plunge, to place into a liquid." Just as cloth placed into a vat of dye is "identified" with the dye, so in baptism a Christian is identified with Jesus Christ. You have "clothed" yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:27).

We also identify with the church (the body of Jesus Christ), "for we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one spirit to drink." (1 Corinthians 12:13).