John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:4
When you come near to Jesus, He will show you your need, but He won’t leave you in despair. He will show you your need, so that in Him you will find forgiveness. This is the reason He came into the world.
Baptism is a wonderful picture of what happens to you when you come near to Jesus Christ. When you come to Him in faith, you become aware of your own sinfulness, you see that you are a sinner, and Jesus Christ washes you. The Son of God forgives you, and if the Son of God forgives you, who’s going to condemn you? You are forgiven. You are washed. You are clean!
Baptism is a wonderful sealing of this. Baptism is a wonderful way of you saying to God, “I am a sinner who needs to be washed. I need to be forgiven. I see so much that is wrong in my life, and I need you to put it right.” And in baptism Jesus Christ says to you, “I am the Savior who forgives you. I am the Savior who washes you.”
Never forget that it is the Son of God who washes you. Forgiveness isn’t just a matter of saying a quick prayer. It’s coming to the realization that you need to change and realizing that that change is only possible through Jesus Christ.
Are you struggling to find forgiveness? Does it seem far away from you? Where are you hoping to find it?
