“Baptized into Community”
Katy Pass, Westmoreland UCC
April 12, 2026
I adore the book of Acts. It just feels like the epitome of “now what…?” It takes place after the gospels, after Jesus had lived, died, resurrected, and ascended into Heaven. It is the story of the followers of Jesus trying to figure out how to be a church after Jesus was no longer physically with them. I truly cannot imagine what it must have been like to try to live after witnessing God with us in the flesh and all that entails. Do you just… go back to normal? How is that even possible?
The book begins with Jesus ascending and promising that his spirit will still be with his followers, even though he will not be physically. So, as promised, the Holy Spirit descends on those gathered for the feast of Pentecost, a Jewish celebration on the 50th day after the Passover meal. And, that spirit does not come quietly. It attracts a crowd of other Jewish individuals who have no clue what they are witnessing.
In response to the crowd's dismay, Peter explains what has happened as a direct fulfillment of a prophecy from Joel. He then makes a case that Jesus is a fulfillment of another prophecy from their holy scriptures. This direct connection of the present to the Jewish sacred texts is whatfinally makes it click for this group of people. The text says that they were “cut to the heart.”
Those who did not understand previously now at least have recognized what they don’t understand as holy. And they are ready to do something. So, Peter tells them to be baptized. This serves as an initiation, a welcoming into the church. We celebrate baptism similarly still today.
And yet, there is something more happening through the waters of baptism. Peter tells the crowd to be baptized for the remission of sins, giving a punitive air to the whole affair, especially after the comment that it was these people who were responsible for killing the messiah. It is easy to read this text with the inference that the crowd must go through this ritual in order to be cleansed before joining the church.
However, it's important to understand that baptism is always a response to what has already been done. The saving work of Christ has already happened, so baptism itself does not literally wash away sins.
Still, there is a cleansing present in the reasoning of this baptism. Though perhaps it has more to do with these people’s needs rather than any divine mandate. They are deeply upset- they did not recognize the Messiah. They watched him die. Maybe they need that symbolic washing not for God or even the church to forgive them, but for them to forgive themselves. To believe that they truly can be a part of this community. Baptism in this light shows that the past is the past, it is ok, they are forgiven. They can move on. Not because of a ritual that is required of them, but because of the love that Jesus has already poured out.
Baptism is an invitation, one that people have said yes to for centuries. An invitation to join this same community, to leave behind the past and whatever is holding you back from believing that you are worthy of such a radical love. It doesn’t originate from the church, only from God. And this invitation is for everyone, no matter who you are or what you have done. It is always there, waiting for you.
Maybe you have been baptized already, or maybe not. The thing about baptism is that it is a lifelong covenant, not a one time event. We will celebrate that in a few minutes by remembering our baptism. The waters are always there to remind us of our place in the community of God. This invitation is for you, no matter what.
The ritual of baptism is to remind us not of our guilt, but our belovedness. That God’s love has been poured out for you, and you didn’t have to do anything to deserve it. That God’s spirit is readily available to you, giving you hope and strength for the journey ahead.
The people in our text have witnessed an extraordinary event which has undeniably changed them. They are aware of God’s love for them, God’s spirit within them, and they are ready to do something with it. Notice that I said awareness, because this love has always been there even if they didn’t know it. It’s finally understanding that makes them want to do something, because such love does not leave you as you are. It overflows into your life, leaving you no choice but to share the love with others. This is the work of the church. Because baptism welcomes us into the community, but it’s just the threshold. This community, the church, has work to do. Those in the text understand this. They have been changed by the love shown to them, and are devoted to sharing that love with each other and the world around them.
These people experience various degrees of participation in the invitation of God. They begin by completely disbelieving, then hearing and having their hearts and minds changed, before fully accepting their place in the community through the practice of being baptized. Let us remember that their place in the community is never in doubt, only whether they wish to accept it.
I invite you to consider today where you see yourself in this process of participation. Maybe you are simply here, not knowing why, and please know that is enough. Maybe you wish desperately to be filled by the spirit. Maybe you are aware of the Spirit and ready to do something. Wherever you are, you are a beloved member of the family of God. The love and spirit of God have already been poured out for you, and meet you however you come today.
Whether you are doubting, fearful, searching, or filled with energy to do something, you are a beloved member of the church, and the waters of baptism are ready to receive you. Remind yourselves of the cleansing properties of this water, the forgiveness which has already been given to you. It has the power to cleanse us of whatever is holding us back from fully accepting our place in this community. It reminds us of the love which has been poured out, and the spirit of God within us. May you never doubt your place in this family.
Amen.
