阅读经文 

洗礼的水是一个物质“记号”，象征着藉着耶稣基督所作的工，罪得以被洗净。它也是一个属灵的“记号”，表明神的灵在我们生命中更新洁净的工作。因此，从我们的生活、思想、言语和行为方式来看，我们应该清楚地知道，因着神的恩典，我们与众不同，被分别出来（“为圣”）。正如一首诗歌所唱的那样：“他们会因着我们的爱知道我们属于基督”——对神的爱和对众人的爱。

因此，洗礼真的很重要。洗礼是公开的、体验性的，它唤起了我们的想象力。此外，当一个成年人或婴儿接受洗礼时，会众会被要求做出承诺，要在信仰的成长中培养这个人，并在其跟随神的呼召时随时帮助他们。许下这些承诺和见证这个仪式，会让我们想起自己受洗时听到的来自会众的承诺，而整个圣礼也会让我们想起神立约的应许。

路标是一种超越自身指向目的地的标志，它指引着所有看到它的人。洗礼就是这样，它将信仰群体指向基督为我们所成就的救赎之工中上帝的恩典。它指引着我们的信仰生活，直到耶稣再来更新万物的那一天。

The water of baptism is a physical "sign" that points symbolically to the washing away of sin through the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is also a spiritual "sign" of the renewing work of God's Spirit in our lives. So in the way we live, think, speak, and act it should be clear that, by the grace of God, we are different, set apart ("holy"). As a song puts it clearly, "They'll know we are Christians by our love"—of God and all people. 

Water baptism, then, is really important. The sacrament of baptism is public and experiential, and it engages our imaginations. Further, when an adult or a baby is baptized, the congregation is asked to make promises to nurture that person in the faith and to help them as they follow God's calling. Making these vows and seeing the ritual reminds us of the promises that were made over us at our own baptism, and the entire sacrament reminds us of the covenant promises of God.

A road sign is something that points beyond itself to a destination, and it guides all who see it. Baptism is like that, pointing the community of faith to the reality of God's grace found in the saving work of Christ for us. It guides us in the life of faith until the day Jesus returns to renew all things.