I watched a beautiful thing last night as a young lady was baptized after study and making a decision to turn her life over to Christ, our Lord.
Over the years I have rode a wave of thoughts on baptism. Is it essential? Is it necessary? Is it an act of obedience? Growing up in a Church of Christ fellowship, the necessity of baptism gets hammered pretty hard. After reading scripture and thinking about what I believe God is saying, I have come to the conclusion that baptism is essential, not out of obedience or following rules, but as an act of submission. It is a decided act to step in the water and leave an old life behind to start a new life. It is a thought-out act of following in Christ's footsteps, albeit much simpler, to show our submission to a life with Him. There is beauty in submission.
I love the language of Romans 6. I see beauty in the language of the writer. Verse 4-5 says "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united (italics mine) with him like this in his death, we will certainly be united with him in his resurrection (bold mine)." I read this and wonder how someone would not RUN to the water after deciding to accept Christ and follow him because I see beauty in how God has allowed us to be united with Christ in death and in life.
Last night I saw glory and power and love and forgiveness and hope all wrapped up in a beautiful act of baptism.
1 comment:
To me, aside from Romans 6, there is nothing that illustrates baptism any better than a wedding. There, bride and groom pledge faithfulness to one another -- til death do us part. They are both the outward signs of entering into covenant.
Interesting: Almost everything said about baptism in the New Testament is written to baptized people -- as a reminder of the significance of their commitment made there.
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