“Stands on the Rock (Peter) said many more things to the ones who were listening. With strong words he kept telling them, “This is how you will be set free and rescued from the bent and twisted ways of this generation.””
(Acts) The Good Story Continues 2:40 FNVNT
Peter repeated over and over again how people were to be set free and rescued from the “bent and twisted ways” of the day. And how were they to be set free? To confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior and to baptized.
Baptism is a Biblical plan/pattern that begins in Genesis. It is a thread that weaves itself through the OT to the New Testament. It reveals how God provides salvation for His people through waters.
It starts in Genesis where God separates the dark waters for a piece of land to rise up where it can support life. Then God rescues a remnant of people out of a flood with the story of Noah and his family. Then God gives Moses the power to part the Red Sea to rescue His people so that they can walk on dry land to their freedom. In Joshua we see the priests carrying the ark of the covenant on dry land through the middle of the parted waters of the Jordan River. Then in the NT we have John the Baptist baptizing people in the Jordan River. Then Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River as well.
Baptism is a public declaration of our inward faith in Jesus. It is symbolic washing away of our sinful nature to rise up as new creations in Christ. It is a public testimony of us following Jesus.
Choosing Jesus and getting baptized is how we “we will be set free and rescued from the bent and twisted ways of this generation.”
Peter kept repeating this over and over again with firm determination so that none would be lost and all who chose to believe would be saved.
Until next time with Jesus’ help let’s be less messy and choose what’s better.