For most people, March 15, 1973, was just another day. I know, some of you were not even born yet, but I doubt even those who were alive then recall any events of that day. But I certainly do. It was to be the most important day of my life. I didn't know it, but I began preparing for that day back in June 1966. That was when my parents first took me to church services in Charleston, West Virginia—on a Saturday afternoon! My life was to change forever after that time, but when I was still 12 years old, I had no idea how profoundly different my life would be, nor did I know what March 15, 1973, would mean to me then. Yes, things were certainly quite different in my life. We drove two hours one way to church each week on Saturday. I had to drop out of band because I couldn't go to the football games on Friday nights. I had to go without eating on a strange sounding day called Atonement, and immediately after that, my parents took my sister and me on a vacation unlike any vacation we'd ever been on before. We went to church every day—with 10,000 people—in a tent! No more pork chops, no Christmas, no bread for a whole week in the spring! Yes, my life was certainly changing! But underneath all these exterior things, there was something else going on in my life that I was completely unaware of at first. However, as I grew older into my teenage years, I realized this was no longer just the church Mom and Dad took me to; it was becoming my church. It was important to me . The commitment to this way of life was becoming stronger all the time. I made the decision to go to Ambassador College because I knew it was where God's way of life was taught and practiced, and I needed to be there. As I entered the second semester of my freshman year, I began counseling for the greatest commitment of my life. I had made the decision to be baptized, and the date for the event was to be March 15, 1973. The Phone Is Ringing That's my story. God had called me through my parents. I once heard a minister use the analogy of how the call from God was like a phone ringing over and over again. In my life, the phone was ringing, and I had to answer it. When it comes right down to it, there are only two responses to that call: yes or no. Some people think they can simply put the caller on hold and not answer the question now. However, a "not now" response can often become the same as "no." If you are still reading this, there is no doubt you've had the phone call. The question is, How will you answer the call? I don't think any of you have already said, "No thanks, I'm not interested." So, that leaves us with three categories. 1. Those who are not of responsible age yet to make a decision. 2. Those who have said "yes." 3. Those who haven't responded yet, but plan to make that definite commitment "someday." All of us need to understand the process, the steps that one who has dedicated his or her life to Christ must follow. Once we have been called and have decided to answer yes, there must also be a process of repentance, baptism and receiving of the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts, we see the beginning of the New Testament Church. These were people who knew the basics of what you and I believe—Sabbath, Holy Days, clean meats—but there was a lot they didn't understand. Most of that revolved around accepting Jesus Christ as the Savior, the Son of God, and having an opportunity to be part of the family of God for all eternity. When they began to understand, what did they do? Acts 2:37-39 says: "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'" How did they know they were ready for baptism? How do you know when you are being called to baptism? The answers have to do with the definition of repentance. Repentance I would say you are ready for baptism when you know that God's way is right, and you sincerely want to surrender to Christ. You're ready when you know you can't overcome your sinful ways on your own. You're ready when you feel a strong desire to be totally forgiven of your sins. You're ready when you feel so strongly that you want to change, you want to be a new person. When you have those thoughts, you are experiencing the Spirit of God drawing you to Jesus Christ. Did these early New Testament Christians feel all these things? Remember, they were "cut to the heart." Have we ever been really "cut to the heart"? What happens when we hear a really inspiring sermon? Are we "cut to the heart"? Are we motivated to do something as a result of hearing that sermon? Do we actually make a change in our lives? Or do we just kind of set it aside spiritually and say, "I'll get to that later"? One who is "cut to the heart" (or shall we say "converted to the heart") will say: "How can I apply this to me? I need to change now! How can I use what I've heard today to improve my life spiritually?" It all comes down to attitude! Is our attitude about hearing an inspiring sermon or reading an inspiring article that of a converted Christian? In other words, do we have a longing inner desire to apply that inspired sermon or article to ourselves? Do we have that strong desire to continually grow and change and improve spiritually? Does it really matter to us? If we are converted to the heart, it will! Repentance is about realizing that we need help from God to overcome. We feel the need to be forgiven. We come to realize that we personally are responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ—He had to die because of the way we've been living our lives contrary to the law of God. God sees you responding to His call to repentance. He sees you have a repentant attitude of mind—you want to change! You have a broken spirit, a humble seeking for forgiveness and mercy. He will truly honor your attitude if you are willing to turn from what the Bible clearly labels as sin. True repentance requires a permanent change of direction. It is a total commitment to a course from which there is no turning back. King David wrote about his personal experience with repentance: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" (Psalm 51:1-4, New International Version). Note David's heartfelt words. However, don't be too caught up in worrying about the emotion of repentance—feeling that you need to work up some overwhelming feeling of sorrow and remorse. Repentance mainly has to do with change. Remember, there are only two paths on which to walk in this life. One leads to death and destruction for all eternity, and the other one leads to eternal life in the family of God (Matthew 7:13-14). If you're not yet baptized, at some time you are going to have to decide what path you're going to follow. And until you make the decision to follow the path to eternal life, you are automatically already walking the path to death and destruction. Most of mankind is on that path. You are different because you've had that phone call that has informed you that you are on a very dangerous path and you've been given an opportunity to change paths. Most of the world doesn't have that opportunity. They've not had the phone call yet. Repentance simply means that you want to be taken off the path to death and placed on the path to life—and you realize that you can't do that by yourself. When you've reached that conclusion in your life, that is the time to call your pastor and begin to counsel for baptism. It's time for you to make that commitment in your life. Baptism Baptism is an outward ceremony that shows that we have accepted the blood of Christ for our sins. It pictures the death of our former way of life in a watery grave. As Jesus was resurrected a spirit being, so rising out of the baptismal water symbolizes our new life—a life led by the Spirit of God. Because we understand the true meaning of repentance and conversion, we should realize baptism is much more than just a symbol; it becomes a profound, life-changing event. Sooner or later, we have to change our lives and get on the path to eternal life. Either we put the old man or woman to death in the grave of baptism, or we end up in the grave of the baptism by fire—eternal death. God shows us these two choices in Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." The stakes are very high. God wants us to choose life, not death! We don't come to church just because we enjoy each other's company. We're all there because God put us there for the purpose of preparing to help Jesus Christ administer His government when He returns to rule this earth. We're the first to learn it so we can teach others. The Gift of the Holy Spirit In the book of Romans, Paul clearly defines the two ways of life. "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:5-9). Clearly, receiving God's Spirit is an essential step on the path to eternal life. If we are baptized and receive God's Holy Spirit, notice our new relationship with God. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit [itself] bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (verses 14-17). What would it be worth to you to know you have a guarantee to be a coheir with Jesus Christ? Are you interested in being like God? Is that too religious sounding to be of interest to you? We need to stop and analyze where we are and what opportunity we've been given. Way back in 1973, I committed to this way of life; I was baptized and received the Holy Spirit. What has that meant to me personally? How has my life changed? I can describe what my life has been like in one word: Peace. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). When we have God's Spirit, and we are therefore sealed as children of God, why should we worry about anything? All the promises of the Bible apply to each of us personally! God promises to heal me when I'm sick, He promises to feed me if I'm hungry, He promises to protect me from danger. (Of course, we know that God's promises don't take away our personal responsibilities or encourage us to tempt God, as Satan tried to get Christ to do in Matthew 4:6-7.) "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me" (Psalm 23:4). Even if God allows me to die, I have an absolute guarantee that in the next instant of my consciousness, I will be resurrected to meet the returning Christ in the air as a spirit being with all the power and glory of the universe! How can it get any better? God doesn't promise an easy life. In fact, we're also promised to have trials and persecution, but still we can have the peace of mind that the rest of the world simply does not have. That's how we face the trials and difficulties of this present, evil world. We can have complete and total trust in God, and therefore, complete and total peace. That's what repentance and baptism have meant to me. Reflect on what God has given to you. Appreciate how awesome it is that God has called you out of all the billions of people on earth and shown you that there is another path you need to be walking on. If you've already started down the path to eternal life, thank God for it. If you haven't made the commitment yet, listen closely—I think you may hear the phone ringing. UN Ron Kelley is pastor of the Asheville, Greensboro and Hickory, North Carolina, congregations.