Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into
death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).
For the Christian, water baptism by immersion is
important, and its significance shouldn’t be overlooked. Our opening scripture
tells us exactly the significance of water baptism: it’s a testimony of your
faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When you’re dipped
into water in baptism, you’re declaring that you’ve identified with Him in His
death and burial. When you’re brought out of the water, it’s symbolic of His
resurrection; you’re thus affirming that you now walk in newness of life. Glory
to God!
Moreover, water baptism marks your final separation
from the world. When the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea on dry
ground, it was symbolic of water baptism. The Bible says they did it by faith
(Hebrews 11:29). 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 tells us that they were baptized unto
Moses in the cloud and in the sea: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that
ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all
passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in
the sea."
When they went through the water and came out on
the other side, the Egyptians tried to do the same, but they were buried in the
water; they all died. At that point, the children of Israel were separated from
Egypt; the Red Sea was their final separation. In the same way, water baptism
marks your final separation from Egypt, which is a type of the world.
This is why every Christian must be baptized in
water; it’s a symbol of salvation, but not in the same sense as the salvation
of taking away your sins; it’s the salvation of a good conscience towards God.
1 Peter 3:20-21 says, "…God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was
a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like
figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of
the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for separating
me from the destructions that ruin men’s lives, and the judgment of this world.
I’m identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, and now walk
in newness of life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study: Mark 16:16; Galatians
3:26-27
1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 4 hosea 11-14
2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 12:1-10 Micah 1-2
No comments:
Post a Comment