Foundations: What Every Christian Ought To Know

What the Bible Says About Baptism 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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, – Romans 6:1-5 (ESV)

Although Jane was raised a Methodist, she started attending a Baptist church when she moved to a new community. One day, she was helping a group of women clean the church kitchen. She emptied the large electric coffeepot and handed it to the lady washing dishes. The lady washing dishes asked, “Can this be washed like everything else?” “No,” Jane replied. “This is a Methodist coffeepot. It says right here, DO NOT IMMERSE.” (Edward Roswell)

Pastor Jim took the time Sunday to explain what the Bible says about baptism. We learned that baptism is a physical symbol of several spiritual realities. The word “baptized” comes from a word that means to submerge. The Greeks used the word to describe the dyeing of a garment, in which the whole material was plunged in and taken out from the element used. Baptize was used in the act of sinking ships. Figuratively, baptism pictures the introduction or placing of a person or thing into a new environment or into union with something else so as to alter its condition or its relationship to its previous environment or condition. When we come to Christ, He changes our relationship with Him and our eternal condition.

Reflection

Why do you think baptism by immersion is an accurate picture of Christian conversion? If you have been baptized, how has the environment or condition of your life changed?

Praise/Prayer

Praise God for the picture that baptism provides of your new relationship with Him and your new life. Pray for those in our church wrestling with the decision to be baptized.

Baptism represents Death to the Power of Sin

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? – Romans 6:1-2 (ESV)

A floor lamp is connected to a wall outlet. It derives its power to give light from the electric outlet in the wall. Just so, a sinner is connected to the evil nature, and derives his incentive and energy to sin, from the evil nature. Remove the connecting plug from the wall outlet, and the light ceases to function. Its source of power has been cut off. Cut the connection between the sinner and the evil nature, and he ceases to function as a sinner. His source of power has been cut off. Connect the floor lamp to the wall outlet, and it starts to give light again. Connect the Christian with the evil nature still in him, and he sins again. But the point is, he is under no compulsion to put himself back into the control of the evil nature again, nor can he do it habitually, nor frequently. (Wuest)

Baptism symbolizes a Christian’s death to the power, guilt, and control of sin. Albert Barnes writes, “To be dead to a thing is a strong expression denoting that it has no influence over us. A man that is dead is uninfluenced and unaffected by the affairs of this life. He is insensible to sounds, tastes, and pleasures; to the hum of business, to the voice of friendship, and to all the scenes of commerce, gaiety, and ambition. When it is said, therefore, that a Christian is dead to sin, the sense is, that it has lost its influence ever him.” The simple truth is that if you are a believer, you have already died to sin. It’s a past event, an accomplished fact.

Reflection

As a Christian, you now have the power to say no to sin. What are some of the reasons you choose to tie back into the power and influence of sin at times?

Praise/Prayer

Praise God for the power He has given you over sin. Ask God to help you actually take advantage of the power you already have to experience victory over sin.

Baptism represents Our Union with Christ

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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. – Romans 6:3-4 (ESV)

Leslie Williamson shared the following story. Recently, my 7-year-old son was baptized at nearby Lake Tahoe. With tears streaming down my face, I watched as he came out of the water, then excitedly asked if he felt any different. “Yeah, Mom, I do,” he replied. “Now, I have water up my nose!” (Today’s Christian Woman)

We’ve been reflecting this week on the meaning of baptism. Romans 6 reminds us that baptism represents our union with Christ. Being “baptized” into Christ means that we have been placed in close union with Him. We were transferred from being in Adam(our old nature) to being in Christ(our new nature). Water baptism is a public witness of the person’s identification with Jesus Christ, while Spirit baptism is the personal and private experience that identifies the person with Christ.

Reflection

In many ways, baptism is a Christian’s public profession of faith in Christ. It is when we tell the world that we have chosen to follow Jesus. What are the public ways we show our connection to other individuals or organizations? Why would a Christian not want to publicly identify with Jesus?

Praise/Prayer

In Matthew 10:31-32 Jesus said, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Praise Jesus for being willing to acknowledge you before our Heavenly Father. Ask Jesus to give you the courage to acknowledge Him before others.

Baptism represents Dying with Jesus

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. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, – Romans 6:4-5 (ESV)

Christian author and teacher Dr. Bill Gillham likes to illustrate how our behavior is linked to our position and identity in Christ through a humorous analogy. He describes a scene in which a man is suddenly accosted by a ferocious bear while on a walk through the woods. The man runs into a shack. Though the structure is securely buttressed by thick timbers, he is unaware of that fact, and he thinks the grizzly will burst through at any moment. This man was safe the moment he fled into the shack. However, since he was ignorant of that fact, he trembled in terror. As Dr. Gillham points out, the poor man could have died of a fear-induced heart attack even though he was secure. Dr. Gillham’s premise is: If we do not understand who we are in Christ and our security in Him, we will act accordingly. (In Touch)

When a Christian is submerged in baptismal waters, it represents being buried with Christ. Baptism represents the fact that our union with Christ is so intimate that when He died, we also died. By the grace of God, were taken back two thousand years and placed into Christ in His death. The idea is that the believer is now identified with Christ’s death including especially in context, identification with His death to the power of sin.

Reflection

What fears can sin produce? How does knowing you died to sin with Jesus calm your fears?

Praise/Prayer

Praise Jesus for defeating sin on the cross. Ask God to help you walk in victory over sin and temptation in your daily life.

Baptism Represents a New Life

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. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, – Romans 6:4-5 (ESV)

Paul Harvey tells a fantastic story about an encounter with a kangaroo. The Italian sailing team was in Australia for the America’s Cup and, finding themselves with some free time, decided to rent a Land Rover for a jaunt into the Australian outback. The team had been outfitted by the designer, Gucci, so they ventured into the bush clad in their Gucci jackets, wearing their Gucci watches, and carrying their Gucci bags. As they were driving, a kangaroo bounded out in front of their Land Rover. Unable to stop in time, they hit the poor animal. Climbing out of the four-wheel drive, they figured they would at least capitalize on the sad event by getting some close-up pictures of the kangaroo. One of the team members had the brilliant idea of putting his jacket on the critter for a fun photo. As they got the jacket on the animal, the kangaroo revived and bolted off into the bush—with the jacket, the car keys, and the team member’s wallet! The moral of the story? Sometimes what you think is dead is not quite as dead as you thought! (L A Times)

The people of Jesus’ day thought He was dead forever. He “wasn’t as dead as they thought.” Three days later Jesus was resurrected from the dead. When a Christian is raised from the baptismal waters, it is a picture of a Christian being raised from spiritual death into a new life with Jesus. Romans 6:5 teaches we are “united together” with Jesus in the likeness of His death and in the likeness of His resurrection. “United together” means sown or planted at the same time. And what is planted together also sprouts or rises up together. From God’s point of view, He sees the believer as dead, buried and raised with the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore united with Him so tightly that you can never be separated.

Reflection

Warren Wiersbe writes, “Our union with Christ is a living union, so we may bear fruit; a loving union, so that we may enjoy Him; and a lasting union, so that we need not be afraid.” What are some temporary fruits you’ve seen in your life as a result of your union with Christ? What are some eternal fruits you look forward to as a result of your union with Christ?

Praise/Prayer

Thank God for the blessing of the new life you have in Christ now and the promise of a new life you will have in heaven. Ask God to let others see the difference He is making in you.