July 25th - The Beginning

The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet
Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "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...save yourselves from this corrupt generation.

Today, July 25th, I was baptized. I never thought this day would ever happen to me in my wildest dreams. But I prayed and prayed, and I've finally received the gift of the Holy Spirit. A gift from God. The gift of eternal life!

I've confessed all my sins to God and I've made a covenent with Him. I will repent and keep the Truth alive. I know I won't be perfect and I know I will still of course sin...but I've done something the Bible asks us all to do - to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. I've been laughed at and laughed at those who followed Christ and asked me to repent and be "saved", made fun of, told to go to another church, told I was in a cult, told to change my ways, told its okay to do this and to do that, etc etc....these are all things the Bible says that will happen when you follow God. I'm prepared for this, because I'm prepared to live my life for God.

They think it is strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel is preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit....Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms....if you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you....if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

I had my doubts for a long time, but the more scripture I read, the more it's real to me. I finally believe. But its not just believing in Jesus Christ and getting baptized. There's a lot more to it. There's a deeper meaning behind it. It's making a covenent with God. It's living your life each and every day for Him. It's repenting. It's serving. It's spreading the gospel. It's loving one another. It's avoiding being a worldly person and receiving the pleasures of a worldly world, and becoming a Godly person and living your life in a Godly way - just as Jesus Christ did. It's putting God first above everything else and trusting him. He provides the way. He makes the way for us. He provides the way out of everything if your lost, depressed, hopeless, addicted, etc. If I wasn't serious, I would NOT be writing this at all. People need to open their eyes, soften their hearts, and pray. This is REAL. People need to hear the message, repent, and be baptized. I'm not judging anyone. The Bible is clear. If Jesus came down from heaven right now, right this minute, right this second, and asked me why are you doing this Andres? I would read Scripture and ask Him, "isn't that what you asked us to do?"


I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born! Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to the Spirit.


The Bible says to be baptized. Jesus was baptized. The end of one of the gospels talks about it. The whole book of Acts talks about it!

Then Jesus came to them and said, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.


How can people think that this isn't real? I can't answer that. All I know is that I'm trying to live my life for God. I'm trying to live my life and do what the Bible tells us to do. I think sometimes people forget the scriptures. They tend to get lost in translation and write their own books, comments, websites, etc....when in fact the Scriptures were written under the power of God and should not be questioned and made clear to everyone. I will not question that, and I will no longer question whether I'm a Christian anymore. I know what Christianity is and I am now officially a brother and disciple of Jesus Christ and I'm honored to be serving him.

Father, I thank you for this day. I thank you for everything you've done in my life. I thank you for everything you've provided in my life and making this day finally happen. You've been with me at every moment in my life and witnessed every sin I've committed...and I thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to us so that all my sins may be forgiven.

Give me the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to keep your will done, because I know that this is just the beginning. Help me to serve YOU and keep YOU first each and every day. I pray for all those around me, both believers and non-believers. I pray that you soften their hearts just as you did mine, so that they may be revealed to You in the true sense. I pray for all my friends and family, and that you bless and be with each one of them.

I thank you for making Jesus both Lord and Christ.

Today I now live for You, in Him

Amen