Psalms 91-93
Romans 15:1-13
“…All of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death? 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.” Romans 6:3-4
What is baptism? Baptism is an outward expression of an inward truth, reality and standing before God. It demonstrates that the person has been united with Christ, where His death is now their death, His burial is now their burial and His resurrection life is now their resurrection life. In other words, they have passed through death with Christ, were buried with Him and raised in the newness of life with Him.
As an illustration of what baptism means, imagine a book and a bookmark. If we were to place the bookmark in the book and then place the book on the floor, where is the bookmark? It is on the floor. Why? Because the bookmark is in the book and the book is on the floor, so the bookmark is on the floor. Now, if we were to take the book and raise it high and lifted up to the heavenly realms, where is the bookmark? It is high and lifted up in the heavenly realm. Why? Because the bookmark is in the book. Similarly, when we place our faith in Christ, we are actually joined with Him; we are now in Christ and where He is, we are also. This is what we declare to the public through baptism.
Hence, Paul writes, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:2-4). We set our minds on things above because we are in two places at once—even though we are on earth, we are also conjoined with Christ, grafted into Christ.
One thing we must understand is that being baptized does not testify that life is going to be easy all of a sudden; in fact, oftentimes, it could actually become more difficult. In this life, we will face troubles, hardships, sickness and struggles but the comfort is that we do not walk alone. Paul tells us, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). For those in Christ, our union with Him is unbreakable and our destiny is secure.
For those of us who profess faith in Jesus but have not been baptized, what is keeping us away from declaring publicly our dependence upon Him and our union with Him?
Father God, I want to live a life conjoined with Christ. Help me to set my mind on things above and not on earthly things. Thank You, Lord.
Romans 15:1-13
“…All of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death? 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.” Romans 6:3-4
What is baptism? Baptism is an outward expression of an inward truth, reality and standing before God. It demonstrates that the person has been united with Christ, where His death is now their death, His burial is now their burial and His resurrection life is now their resurrection life. In other words, they have passed through death with Christ, were buried with Him and raised in the newness of life with Him.
As an illustration of what baptism means, imagine a book and a bookmark. If we were to place the bookmark in the book and then place the book on the floor, where is the bookmark? It is on the floor. Why? Because the bookmark is in the book and the book is on the floor, so the bookmark is on the floor. Now, if we were to take the book and raise it high and lifted up to the heavenly realms, where is the bookmark? It is high and lifted up in the heavenly realm. Why? Because the bookmark is in the book. Similarly, when we place our faith in Christ, we are actually joined with Him; we are now in Christ and where He is, we are also. This is what we declare to the public through baptism.
Hence, Paul writes, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:2-4). We set our minds on things above because we are in two places at once—even though we are on earth, we are also conjoined with Christ, grafted into Christ.
One thing we must understand is that being baptized does not testify that life is going to be easy all of a sudden; in fact, oftentimes, it could actually become more difficult. In this life, we will face troubles, hardships, sickness and struggles but the comfort is that we do not walk alone. Paul tells us, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). For those in Christ, our union with Him is unbreakable and our destiny is secure.
For those of us who profess faith in Jesus but have not been baptized, what is keeping us away from declaring publicly our dependence upon Him and our union with Him?
Father God, I want to live a life conjoined with Christ. Help me to set my mind on things above and not on earthly things. Thank You, Lord.
← Older Post Newer Post →