Remembering Our Baptism

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” —Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

At least once a year, in my United Methodist Church, we are invited to remember our baptism. I think back to my own baptism, in another Christian tradition, standing in a cold baptismal tank as the pastor declared, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 

Then came the plunge—the cold water washing over me, the sputtering as I rose. But when we remember our baptism, it’s not just the physical sensation we recall. It’s the spiritual memory: what led us to that moment, why baptism matters, why it must be Trinitarian.

This devotion is written from a Wesleyan perspective, though I hope it honors the diversity of baptismal practices across Christian traditions while affirming the centrality of Christ’s Great Commission.

Before we ever chose baptism, God was already at work. In Wesleyan theology, we call this prevenient grace—the grace that goes before. It’s the quiet stirring of the Spirit, the divine initiative that awakens our awareness and draws us toward God. Whether we were baptized as infants or adults, that moment was preceded by grace:

• Grace that softened our hearts

• Grace that turned us from sin and toward God

• Grace that prepared us to say yes to love, yes to belonging, yes to transformation

That grace continues to unfold—justifying us when we respond in faith, and sanctifying us as we grow in love.

Baptism is our response to the grace we’ve already been shown—a visible sign of an invisible reality. It’s not earned, but received. Not initiated by us, but by God.

Then comes the command: “Go and make disciples… baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus’ words remind us that baptism is not just personal—it’s communal, missional, and Trinitarian. Our baptism is more than a liturgical formula—it’s a theological declaration:

• Baptism as Obedience: Christ commands it. It’s part of our discipleship journey, not a spiritual elective.

• Baptism as Belonging: It marks our entry into the Church—the body of Christ—where we are known, named, and nurtured.

• Baptism as Transformation: As Paul writes in Romans 6:4, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

• Trinitarian Invocation: To be baptized in the name of the Trinity is to be immersed in divine relationship—Father, Son, and Spirit. It affirms the mystery of the Triune God, marks us distinctly as followers of Christ, and anchors our practice in the continuity of the Church’s historic faith.

Though some traditions sprinkle and others immerse, some baptize infants and others adults, we all honor the call to make disciples and baptize in the name of the Triune God.

This leads to a common question I hear about the Wesleyan tradition: “Why do you baptize infants?” In doing so, we acknowledge Christ’s grace already at work in the child. Baptism is a sign of that grace, and a promise made by the community—parents, godparents, and all those present—to nurture the child in the words and ways of Christ. Later, the child will decide whether to claim that faith as their own. Though they may confirm their belief in a public profession, the baptism itself is not repeated—because it is God’s act, not ours.

To remember our baptism is to remember who we are and whose we are. It’s a call to live into our identity as beloved children of God, shaped by grace and sent into the world. Whether we were baptized decades ago or just last year, the invitation remains.

• To walk in newness of life

• To live in covenant community

• To bear witness to the love of the Triune God

This identity calls us to live with intention—and to seek God’s help as we do.

Holy God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—we thank You for the waters of baptism, for the grace that claimed us, the Spirit that sustains us, and the Christ who calls us. Help us remember not just the moment, but the meaning. May we live as baptized people—rooted in love, marked by mercy, and sent to serve. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim