Remember, I Called You! (Thinking About Baptism?)

When a person is considering baptism, sometimes the eternal commitment involved can seem frightening. Examining God’s answers to some real questions can help.

During Sabbath services at the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, we do not invite “sinners” to come forward and “give their hearts to the Lord.” It is our belief that God does the calling and that our response should be personal and carefully thought out, not an emotional whim.

Jesus tells us, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). God is the one who calls a person to repentance and brings him or her into the awareness of His way of life.

Baptism requires true repentance and a private acknowledgment of your sinful ways before God, with the desire and the will to change.

This calling can be frightening, and there may be stumbling blocks that can lead you to believe that God will not forgive all your sins. Or you may wonder if He is really calling you at this time. Perhaps you think you are not ready to make this commitment.

These are real issues of concern for a person on this path of making the most important decision of his or her life. So, how do you know if God will forgive all your sins? How do you know if you are ready for baptism or if God is really calling you at this time?

God’s Word gives us the answers to each of these concerns.

Will God forgive all your sins?

John writes, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). David also shares this thought: “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5).

God knows you have sinned, and He is waiting for you to have the courage through true repentance to ask for forgiveness and believe that He will forgive you. There is no sin that the sacrifice of our Creator and Savior cannot cover.

Jesus died to save us, not to condemn us

Jesus Christ willingly died for us, even while we were still sinners, so that we will not have to pay the death penalty for our personal sins (Romans 5:7-8).

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). He wants us to walk in the light of His truth.

Do you remember what Christ told the woman who was brought to Him by the Pharisees, taken in the very act of committing adultery?

Jesus asked, “‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more’” (John 8:10-11). You see, Christ desired to show mercy to this repentant woman, not to condemn her. He desires to do the same for you.

How do you know if you are ready for baptism?

If you understand what sin is and you are ready to give up your way of life to follow Christ, accepting Him as your personal Savior, then without a doubt, God is working with you! He is drawing you to His Son.

Imagine you are at center floor of a basketball court and Jesus Christ is located at the visitor’s basket, choosing His team. He looks over at you and says, “I choose you.”

Now, you feel compelled to inform Christ that you are not worthy to be on His team because of your sins. But He instructs you to repent, be baptized, receive God’s Holy Spirit and then come follow Him, because He has purchased you with His life (Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 7:23).

We all have sinned and have served on Satan’s team since before we can remember. Satan’s objective is to cripple you with doubt and fear to prevent you from accepting this awesome calling and invitation from God.

What’s your defense? Confess privately before God your sins, including any you have not forgiven yourself for—the ones that Satan may be holding over your head. Satan wants you to believe that God will not forgive you, but the real truth is, God is ready to forgive!

If you find yourself struggling with the commitment of baptism because of these stumbling blocks, you may be resisting God’s calling!

God is personally drawing you to His Son, and as Christ said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16).

Do not be hindered by your past and forfeit this opportunity because, after baptism, you have no past before God, only a new beginning in the Body of Jesus Christ.

So, remember, if you are reading and understanding this, God is calling you! How will you respond?

Read more about repentance and baptism in the post “Baptism, Commitment and Recommitment.”

Peter Holmes resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, along with his wife of 31 years, Schelleta. He serves the Indianapolis congregation as a deacon.