Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? — Romans 6:3

Baptism is about much more than getting wet or crossing off another thing on our list of things to do to show obedience. You see, what saves us is that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-5). God has given us the amazing grace (Rom. 6:1,14,15) of being able to share in Jesus’ saving work through faith and experience it in baptism (Gal. 3:26-27). We stop living the way we used to and bury it in the past. It doesn’t hold us anymore. This death is the most important one. Our new life is now joined with Christ’s, and his future is now our own (cf. Col. 3:1-4). God made us so that we can praise him and spend eternity with him. That means that the Gospel is not just something that is preached; it is something that we experience by God’s grace.

 

Thought

Baptism is about much more than getting wet or crossing off another thing on our list of things to do to show obedience. You see, what saves us is that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-5). God has given us the amazing grace (Rom. 6:1,14,15) of being able to share in Jesus’ saving work through faith and experience it in baptism (Gal. 3:26-27). We stop living the way we used to and bury it in the past. It doesn’t hold us anymore. This death is the most important one. Our new life is now joined with Christ’s, and his future is now our own (cf. Col. 3:1-4). God made us so that we can praise him and spend eternity with him. That means that the Gospel is not just something that is preached; it is something that we experience by God’s grace.

 

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for bringing me back to life and giving me a new life in Jesus. Thank you for being kind enough to send Jesus. Thank you for giving me the chance to know what it was like for Jesus to die, be buried, and rise again. May my life show the powerful grace you’ve given me. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.