This past Saturday, we had a baptismal service.  3 people who trusted in Christ as their Savior were baptized.  As we know from Scripture, baptism has nothing to do with salvation.  We are saved through "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." - Acts 20:21

Baptism is only a picture of what Christ has done for us.  Christ went to the Cross for our sins.  He basically took our sins from us and put them on himself.  He died and was then buried, but then He rose again.  Baptism represents this.  The person being baptized is lowered into the water representing Christ being buried which also represents our "old nature" our sinful nature dying and being buried.  Then as the person being baptized is risen up out of water, it represents the resurrection of Christ also representing our new nature, our new life in Christ, we have been resurrected to live for him and be with Him for eternity.  

All of this, is a picture of the Love of Christ.  It represents our profession of faith in Christ, but is not any type of requirement of salvation.  It is only a step of obedience after salvation that God's wants us to take.  It is much like a wedding ring.  The ring has nothing to do with the couple officially being married.  We can be married and never exchange rings.  If you did exchange rings, and the couple decides not to wear the rings for the rest of the marriage, it doesn’t mean that they are not married any more.   The rings are only a symbol, a picture of marriage.  

So these 3 came on Saturday in obedience to Christ and to confirm publically their repentance toward God and their faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.  It was a wonderful service.  Below are some pictures.

This is Nora.  She is very faithful.  She is really growing in the Lord.  She is reading her bible everyday and having discipleship classes with Mrs. Loveday.  Nora has a real battle at home.  Her husband, Jesus, is not a Christian.  Jesus has come several times and heard the Gospel over and over.  Please pray that God would touch his heart.

Ariel and His wife, Anna, are from Bolivia.  Anna, was saved sometime ago and has been praying for her husband to be saved.  Little by little, God was working in Ariel's heart.  Several weeks ago, Ariel came forward at the end of the service and said that he wanted to be saved.  We praise the Lord for this couple.  Now that they have been saved, they want to make things right.  They had a civil weeding this past week and now they are planning for a church wedding.  It is awesome to see God changing lives!