The following true story comes from the “Kids of the Kingdom” section of Christian Reader (July/August 2000):

     As a couple drove home from church one afternoon, they were talking about a friend who was going to be baptized that day. As they were saying how proud they were of him, their three-year-old daughter Elizabeth asked, “What does it mean to be baptized?”

     Their 5-year-old son Joshua spoke up, “Oh, baptism — that’s when the preacher washes all your senses away.”

     Well, that’s not quite what the scriptures teach. I’m sure what that little boy meant (at least, I hope so) is that the scriptures teach that baptism washes our “sins” away.  Ananias said to Saul (later to be known as the apostle Paul):

     “And now why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

     Don’t misunderstand.  It’s not that there’s magical power in the water.  In fact, the power is not in the water, but in the blood of Jesus Christ.  But as baptism demonstrates a death (to sin), burial (in water) and resurrection to new life, it expresses a faith in Jesus Christ who died, was buried and who rose again the third day (Romans 6:3-4).  And the end result is not a washing of the body, but a washing of the soul — remission of sins (I Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38).

     Have you taken this step of faith?

     “And now why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

Alan Smith