Build a Strong Family - Thursday
Today’s Verse
Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (NIV)
This week, we’ve covered several principles that help a family grow spiritually stronger. These include attending church regularly, finding nourishment in God’s Word, and seeking a spiritual community. These are great, but there is still more!
At Southland, we believe we are called to live out our belief that Jesus is the Christ, confess our need for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, repent of our sin, be immersed in the waters of baptism, and live an obedient life. Baptism is the outward expression of a personal faith in Jesus.
If you are unfamiliar with baptism, you might want to learn more about it:
Baptism is a visible response to one’s trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. Baptism is a picture of the death (dying to our sin and old life), burial (washed and cleansed by Jesus’ blood), and resurrection (raised to new life) of Jesus (Romans 6:1-23).
In the Bible, baptism was the consistent response for people who trusted in Jesus. When people accepted Christ as Savior in New Testament times, they believed in Him (Acts 16:31), repented of their sins (Acts 2:38), confessed Christ as Lord (Matthew 16:16-18, Romans 10:9-10), and were baptized (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38- 41, Acts 8:36-38).
Receiving Christ requires a response on our part—one that includes belief, repentance, confession, and baptism. Each part expresses our trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation. The actions—including baptism—do not save us, but each action is mentioned in Scripture as part of becoming a Christian.
To learn more, check out the baptism page on our website or stop by the Help Desk at one of our five campuses! We would love to share more about this important step and what it means to declare Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
REFLECTION
Did you know Southland offers families a class on baptism? It’s called KidSplash and it is designed for kids and parents to attend together. The goal is to teach families what the Bible says about salvation, baptism, and what it means to follow Jesus. We hope this helps begin a conversation that will continue at home. Our next round of classes will be offered in February and March. To register for one of our upcoming classes, visit the Southland Events page and search for KidSplash. If you don’t have kids, but still want to learn about baptism, we have a class coming up on February 23 at the Nicholasville campus!