Today Compass Bible Church held a baptismal service where around 60 people proclaimed rebirth in Christ and were identified with Christ by following Him in baptism. It was awesome.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul says–

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!”

A lot of people want to say “I’m in Christ” but cannot say “I’m a new creation.” When I meet with high school girls I always ask them about their testimony. Sometimes if they give a “prayed-the-prayer-at-four-but-that’s-all” I’ll ask how they have seen God change them. Usually when we talk about the fruit of salvation we find out that she has more to her testimony or we find out that she isn’t really a follower of Christ. You can’t be in Christ and be the same old you.

One of these sweet girls is Nakieta. She asked if we could meet for breakfast one day and when I picked her up she was down, troubled and confused. As we sat at a bakery with our breakfast she shared that she had never seen a change in her life. She had always just been Nakieta, never had there been a major change like Paul talks about in our verse.

Then, right there in front of me, eating a bowl of Swiss oatmeal and reading Ephesians 2 the Lord opened her heart to receive His Word and she began to cry and pray and ask Him to save her. He did.

Today as she was baptized I cried because in that blue inflatable pool was one girl who God has made completely new. Her face radiated joy and peace as she told everyone that she has turned from her sin and has trusted Christ to save her. God is amazing.

How can we not tell others the gospel? We say we’re shy, we don’t think they’ll like us if we speak the truth, or say we’re just too nervous. Please be available to be used by God to speak the truth of His gospel to someone. He does the work in you and He does the work in them. Maybe they will be made a new creation right there in front of you!

By grace you’ve been saved
All praise to Jesus
Who made us alive

Together we’re raised
All praise to Jesus
Whose great love won’t die

And He will complete
His good work begun in me
For He is gracious
O Lord, make me new

And I will follow
On His path before my feet
To see His glory
Lord, lead me to You

Godsong–“By Grace to Glory”