An Important Lesson!

An Important Lesson!

Years later, John the Baptist(hope you remember him. We learnt about him in the 1^st mail of the Christmas series) started preaching in the desert of Judea. He said, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here." John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, 'Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.' " John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.  From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river. Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. John had strict message for them. Because they weren’t really sorry for their sins yet they had come to be baptised. He said “I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (He was speaking about Jesus). Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John kept objecting and said, "I ought to be baptized by you. Why have You come to me?" Jesus answered, "For now this is how it should be, because we must do all that God wants us to do." Then John agreed. So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as He came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on Him like a dove. Then a voice from heaven said, "This is My own dear Son, and I am pleased with Him(Jesus)." Bible portion: Matthew chapter 3

Lesson to be Learnt:

            It is  a very important lesson today. Baptism, it means to be immersed in the water. It is a sign that tells people we believe in Jesus and trust in Him to forgive us of our sins. It shows people our hearts have been washed clean and we are ready to live a new life in obedience to God.  Being baptized is also a way we obey God, just like Jesus did. Baptism is very important and a very special event. Jesus was sinless. Even His birth was proved sinless. But He got baptized, because He wanted to set an example to us so that we can follow the same. We have given a link in the mail. Kindly read through it. It will make you understand basic things about baptism and why we should be baptized.

Acts 2:38

(CEV)  Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit.

(Hindi) पतरस ने उन से कहा, मन फिराओ, और तुम में से हर एक अपके अपके पापोंकी झमा के लिथे यीशु मसीह के नाम से बपतिस्क़ा ले? तो तुम पवित्र आत्क़ा का दान पाओगे।

(Kan) ಆಗ ಪೇತ್ರನು ಅವರಿಗೆ--ನೀವು ಮಾನಸಾಂತರಪಟ್ಟು ಪಾಪಗಳ ಪರಿಹಾರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಿಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬನು ಯೇಸು ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತನ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಪ್ತಿಸ್ಮ ಮಾಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿರಿ; ಆಗ ನೀವು ಪವಿತ್ರಾತ್ಮನ ದಾನವನ್ನು ಹೊಂದುವಿರಿ.

 (Mal) വാഗ്ദത്തം നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കും നിങ്ങളുടെ മക്കള്‍ക്കും നമ്മുടെ ദൈവമായ കര്‍ത്താവു വിളിച്ചു വരുത്തുന്ന ദൂരസ്ഥന്മാരായ ഏവര്‍ക്കും ഉള്ളതല്ലോ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.

(Tamil OV)  பேதுரு அவர்களை நோக்கி: நீங்கள் மனந்திரும்பி, ஒவ்வொருவரும் பாவமன்னிப்புக்கென்று இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவின் நாமத்தினாலே ஞானஸ்நானம் பெற்றுக்கொள்ளுங்கள், அப்பொழுது பரிசுத்த ஆவியின் வரத்தைப் பெறுவீர்கள்.

(Telugu)  పేతురు - మీర మారుమనస్సుపొంది, పాపక్షమాపణ నిమిత్తము ప్రతివాడు యేసుక్రీస్తు నామమున బాప్తిస్మము పొందుడి; అప్పుడు మీరు పరిశుద్ధాత్మ అను వరము పొందుదురు.

Note: Kindly read the PDF linked

http://www.eastviewchurch.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Baptism-Class-Handout.pdf

A Time To Talk and a Time to Listen: http://letterfromgodmail.blogspot.in/2012/12/a-time-to-talk-time-to-listen.html