The Surprising Significance of Baptism

Church family,

Easter Sunday is approaching quickly (April 20th). We will celebrate baptisms across our two campuses. What a joyful day it will be! If you are interested in baptism you can let us know by filling out a connect card at www.thedoorchurch.net/connect (be sure to ‘click’ the baptism box).

As we watch new believers descend into the water and rise again, we will witness the visible sign and seal of an invisible reality - the believer’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection.

Question: Is this really that significant? God certainly thinks so:

Romans 6:1-5: "1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Let’s break that down:

United with Christ in Death: Immersion under water through faith in Christ depicts our real participation in the power and benefits of Christ's death. Through death, Jesus served our death sentence. Through faith we die with him to our old life of rebellion. Immersion also signifies burial: the old self (the self that loves sin and hates God) has been buried with Christ, never to rise again.
United with Christ in Resurrection: Coming up from the water signifies our participation in Christ’s resurrection by faith. Incredible! We are raised to a new life, the resurrection life of Christ. If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

So, what does this mean for us here and now?

We’re free from the penalty of sin: Our baptism is a picture of being cleansed of sin and saved from its penalty, death. Jesus’ sin-payment and perfect righteousness apply to us through union with Him. We’re no longer condemned under sin because He became sin for us that we might become His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). He served our death sentence. He wore our stains and shame. We’re free to go.
We’re free from the power of sin: Our baptism also means that we are no longer slaves of sin. Sin can’t boss us around anymore. We sometimes choose to obey sin, but we don’t have to now. That’s powerful if you believe it. Union with Jesus, depicted in baptism, means we have a new desire, new power, and new obligation to say “no” to sin. The old self, mastered by sin, is dead and buried. When temptation comes, we can say, "I no longer have to obey my old master. I belong to a new Master, Jesus Christ. My joy is to do His will now."
We’re free from the identity of sin: Our baptism, depicting union with Christ, also means our sin no longer defines us. “Sinner” describes our condition, but it’s no longer our identity. Yes, we are still very sinful, but our new identity is now “saint” (holy one). In Christ, we are simultaneously sinners and saints. I think it’s even better to say we are “sinful saints” or saints who still sin (even though I now hate my sin!). “Saint” (holy one) is our new identity in Christ. Baptism, as described in Romans 6, means we are no longer called by the name of our old Master. We are not identified with him anymore. We are called by the name of our new Master, Jesus Christ.

This changes everything about our daily lives:

No condemnation: When we wake, we can live free from the fear of condemnation. We can live assured of God’s favor. We are clothed in His righteousness. He’s always for us, never against us.
No Tyranny: When we wake, we can live free from the tyranny of sin. We can refuse our old master (sin) and obey our new Master (Jesus). All we have to do is say “no” to sin and “yes” to Jesus by power of the Spirit, every moment.
New Identity: When we wake, we know we are sinful saints, not saintly sinners. Our purpose is to live according to our new identity. We’re more than conquerors through Jesus. We’re called by the highest name, Jesus Christ. This is a steadfast anchor for our souls.