WHOSE BAPTISM

Today's reading: Acts 19-20

"Then what baptism did you experience, he asked. And they replied, The baptism of John." Acts 19:3

Paul spoke to the believers in Ephesus about their baptism experiences.

The folks he spoke to referred to their immersions as having followed the teachings of John--the only Gospel deliverer to them at the time.

Paul went on to explain the life of Jesus, the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus--and their hearts were changed again and they were baptized one more time, in the name of Jesus.

It gave me pause.

Too many of us have been baptized in the name of the churches we attend. The network of friends we hang with. Or in the name of a saintly parent or grandparent.

Are we truly baptized, have the desire to turn from sin and proclaim to the world that change, in the name of Jesus?

Is Jesus the reason we no longer sin?

Is Jesus the reason we strive to know more about the Bible, the Author of the Bible and the ways the Bible can change our lives and the lives of those around us?

Is Jesus the reason we 'got wet in public'?