Snellville Church of Christ: Online Resources: Houston Bynum

Baptism
by Houston Bynum

I love to listen to songs that tell a story. One of the truly great singers of "story-telling songs" is Randy Travis. Back in 2000, Randy Travis released a CD titled "Inspirational Journey," that included a story song by Mickey Cates titled, "Baptism." These words describe the scene of a young man's baptism so well that you just experience the whole thing in your imagination, right down to the sense of peacefulness and assurance that he's feeling in his soul.

The summer breeze made ripples on the pond,
And rattled through the reeds and the willow trees beyond.
Daddy in his good hat and mama in her Sunday dress,
Watched with pride as I stood there in the water up to my chest.
And the preacher spoke about the cleansing blood,
As I sank my toes into that cool, east Texas mud.

CHORUS

But it was down with the old man, up with the new,
Raised to walk in the ways of light and truth,
I didn't see no angels, just a few saints on the shore,
But I felt like a newborn baby, cradled up in the arms of the Lord.

Amazing Grace, O, how sweet the sound,
There was glory in the air; there was dinner on the ground.
And my sins, which were many, were washed away and gone.
Along with a buffalo nickel I forgot to leave at home.
But that seemed like such a small, small price to pay,
For the blessed peace of mind that came to me that day.

This road is long and dusty, sometimes a soul it must be cleansed,
And I'd long to feel that water rushing over me again.

The day of a person's baptism is a wonderful day. Do you remember when you were baptized? Did you have some of the same thoughts (like the lyrics above by Mickey Cates) when you confessed your faith in Christ, repented of your sins, and were baptized (immersed) for remission of your sins?

"Down with the old man, up with the new"--that's scriptural, isn't it? We walk in "newness of life" and the "old self" was put to death (Rom. 6:4, 6). We become a "new creature" (2 Cor. 5:17). We lay aside the "old self" and put on the "new self" (Col. 3:9-10)--all because of the amazing grace of God and the cleansing blood of Jesus.

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