BAPTISM IS A PICTURE AND A PROMISE

Baptism is an outward picture of what God has done on the inside of you. Since the early days of the church, baptism has been the rite of passage for people to become followers of Jesus. Leaving our old lives behind, we have a fresh start, a new birth and a new identity that are tied forever to Jesus. Baptism is about bathing, birth and belonging.

Baptism is a picture of bathing. 

You are dirty and you need a bath. Baptism is for people that want cleansing from sin and a fresh start in life. It starts with confession of sin and repentance or “turning” to God. Baptism is a picture of God making you clean.

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’ Acts 22:16

It’s also a picture of birth. 

You are dead and buried with Christ and raised to a new life with him. Being born out of the water as a new creation, you no longer live for yourself. Now you are clothed with Christ. It is no longer you who live, but Christ lives in you. Baptism is a picture of how we share in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

By our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… so also we may live a new life!” Rom. 6:4

Finally, it is a promise of belonging.

The baptism that really counts is Jesus’ baptism for us. He had no sins to cleanse or to die for. Everything he did, he did on our behalf so that those who put their faith in him are united to him. His baptism cleanses you. Yours is a picture of it. You died in his death. His resurrection is yours. What his Father said of him in his baptism, he says of you and me as we are included in him. This is the promise of God you are trusting!

“This is my child, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased!” (Mt. 3:17)

“In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Gal. 3:26-27)

If you have been baptized, watching others take the plunge is a great reminder of what is true of you. You get to see this drama of bathing, birth and belonging acted out by others whose lives are being transformed by Jesus.

Do you need a bath? Are you ready for new birth? Don’t you want the assurance of your belonging? Then email Karen@mvc.life today.