When a believer is baptized, he/she is declaring, “I am united with Christ – in His death, in His resurrection, and in His life.”
August 10, 2008 (Sunday)
Baptism is a significant event in the life of a believer. According to Romans 6:3-5, it is symbolic of death, burial and resurrection: “..all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death.. We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.” When a believer is baptized, he/she is declaring, “I am united with Christ – in His death, in His resurrection, and in His life.”
We are united with Christ in His death. “..our old self was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6 NIV). Baptism is a symbol of burial of the old self. A new self has come to take its place (2 Cor 5:17). Christ gives us a new nature at the moment of conversion, and continues through his Spirit to aid us in spiritual growth.
We are united with Christ in His resurrection. “..Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ..” (Eph 2:4-5). He has raised us from spiritual death. He has given us a new life. We are now “alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:11 NIV).
We are united with Christ in His life. In Christ we have a new reason to live. He said, “Because I live, you shall live also.” We experience His presence in our lives every day, saying with the Apostle Paul, “..to me to live is Christ!” (Phil 1:21 NIV). Christ gives us a life blessed by His daily presence, because He is alive. He lives in our hearts.
Today at Timbergrove Baptist Church we plan to baptize. Those being baptized will be celebrating the end of the old and the beginning of the new. Please, you who read this, breathe a prayer for them as they begin their journey with Christ.