Friday 15 August 2008
- Bible Book:
- Romans
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." (v.3-5)
Background
The focal point of the Christian faith is the death, burial andresurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the very heart of Christianity.So when Paul (the traditional writer of Romans) connects the riteof Baptism with this event, he is saying something of greatsignificance.
Baptism is not to be confused with saving faith. It is our faithalone that allows us to enter into a relationship with God throughChrist. Nor is baptism merely a symbol. Paul seems to be suggestingso much more in this regard.
When Paul writes that we are buried with Christ in baptism he istelling us that the act of baptism is a time when we are identifiedwith Christ. Our identity is found in Christ. And the act ofbaptism is an outward statement of an inward reality. We are buriedto the old way of being human so that we may be raised to a new wayof being human - a way described by our heavenly Father throughGod's son Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.
To Ponder
When you think of your life, what part has yet tobe united to Christ's death?
What aspect of your life is most obviously unitedwith Christ's resurrection?
What most challenges you about this deep andpowerful passage?