"Baptized Into Christ"

On the first Sunday of the new year, Reverend Holt invites the congregation to consider the deep mystery and transformative power of baptism—not only as ritual, but as identity, inheritance, and empowerment. Using the story of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan and Paul’s encounter with John’s disciples in Acts 19, Holt shows how true Christian baptism is far more than a symbol—it’s a spiritual reality that changes everything.

The sermon is framed around three baptisms:

John’s Baptism – a baptism of repentance, calling people to turn toward God.

Jesus’ Baptism – a baptism of righteousness, identifying Jesus as the Son of God, the rightful King, and the perfect representative of humanity.

Our Baptism – a baptism of transformation, in which we are united to Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and marked as God’s own forever.

Reverend Holt beautifully unpacks the theological implications of Jesus’ baptism—where the heavens are torn open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father declares, “You are my beloved Son.” Drawing on Psalm 2 and 2 Samuel 7, he explains how this declaration is not just affection but coronation: Jesus is being revealed as the King and Messiah.