The Unapproachable Light

We celebrated a liturgy last evening. The One who appeared on earth and enlightened the world, and was baptized in the Jordan, coming from Galilee, by John the Baptist, to fulfill all righteousness.
In the Orthodox faith, Baptism is the action where one can be "born again" as we are buried with Christ, resurrected with Him and united to Him, a new Christian and member of the Church. We do not believe in washing away original sin. There are many question that arise from friends about choice. Shouldn't they be able to understand first then go forward themselves at a certain age, like Jesus? Considering they immerse naked infants under water three times, that would answer the adult or older child question for me. The scriptures clearly indicate that we must be Baptized in order to be saved. Do you recall the story about Paul and Silas, being loosed from their chains in prison, remained behind, saving the guard from harming himself, saying "Do yourself no harm for we are all here." Although the earthquake provided their release. The jailers ask of them "what must I do the be saved?" (ACTS 16:31) "So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all who were in his house. (33)And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all him family were baptized." (Mark 16:16) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
(1Peter3:21) "There is an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him."
We become His. Our dispisition toward sin changes. We become new creations.
(Romans 5:4-5) "Therefore we were buried with Him through Baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection."(23)"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Acts 2-38-39)"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."
This is the answer for those who think that they chose God. It clearly states "as many as the Lord our God will call." Yes, we do make the decision to follow Christ, as we must, we still have "free will" and can deny Him. To think we do things on our own and do not need God is a grave sin called Pride, and pride leads to death. It is the chief sin.
Jesus sanctified the world by His baptism. The water became holy and touched all creation, leaving its mark upon us. And Jesus was made manifest. For the voice of the Father gave witness to You calling You His Beloved Son. And the Spirit in the guise of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of His words.
And, as we were sprinkled with the blessed waters, we sang "Glory to You, Christ our God, who appeared and enlightened the world."
New Years is a time for thinking about resolutions and change, today is the time to begin them. How about this as a personal message from the Lord? (Mark16:15)"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Matthew 28:19)"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;"
For more information please read here .
The Orthodox Study Bible.