The sacrament of baptism serves to strengthen our faith in Christ. The Christian life is one with lots of ups and downs. One day we feel close to God and delight in his promises, the next we are unsure if he really loves us and if we belong to him. In the wider Christian world, we are often encouraged to look to past experiences as confirmations that we truly belong to God and everything will be okay. Whether it is the experience of God’s presence on a mountain, the gift
of a special language, a vision, or a dream—experience takes the place of promise. With our baptism, however, we are encouraged to place our confidence in the promise of God and not in our experiences. A promise that the blood of Christ has washed away our sins. A promise that we can look back to again and again. The promise held out in baptism is a promise for us in the midst of temptation. It is a promise for those days when you are unsure. You were baptized. You belong to Christ. Now live in the light of your baptism (see Colossians 2:6–7).
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.