Stepping Into The Waters- 01/18/2026

Think of a moment when someone spoke truth into your life, perhaps a friend gently revealed something you'd been avoiding, and in that instant, you felt your heart shift, knowing you could never be the same. That's what happened on Pentecost in Acts 2. Peter had just preached boldly about Jesus as the risen Lord, quoting Joel in verse 21: "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." The crowd, hearing this, was cut to the heart. They realized their guilt for rejecting the Messiah and cried out, seeking to know what they could do. Peter's answer in verses was direct: "Repent and be baptized…and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…" And in verse 41, those who gladly received his word were baptized, and about three thousand were added that day. Salvation comes through calling on the Lord in repentant faith, believing Jesus as Savior, and confessing Him as Lord, but baptism follows as a clear, obedient response. Today, let's explore what baptism truly does for us, building on this powerful scene. Baptism unites us with Christ in a profound way, marking the beginning of a life transformed by His grace.