Saturday 11 April 2026

Psalm 150

Background
Easter Day has often been a day for celebrating baptisms. There was a custom, certainly in some parts of the Early Church, for candidates for baptism to strip off their clothes before entering the water and, having been baptised, to be given new clothes to wear. Paul seems to be aware of this practice in his writing to the Colossians when he refers to stripping off and clothing oneself with the new self (verses 9-10).

There have been a number of times this week when we have reflected on the opportunity to embrace Christ’s resurrection life now. For Paul that isn’t just a nice extra for a few holy people, but is the expectation for all the people of God. To embrace Christ’s life means, firstly, to embrace his death. Paul details what 'dying to Christ' means – putting away habits that deny God, separate us from our neighbour, or divide the unity of the Church. They fall mostly into two categories – unholy sexual practices and unholy use of speech. The Church should take seriously both areas and not become fixated only on one. Paul doesn’t grade these offences. Sexual impurities are not seen as any worse than telling lies.

However, Paul doesn’t only talk about what to give up. Those who have stripped away and put to death the old ways, are to also put on new clothes and rise to Christ’s new life. Paul then details the attitudes of heart and mind that are the expected norms for all who are raised with Christ. This includes seeking a new unity across ethnic and social boundaries.

Scythians (mentioned in verse 11) were considered the people furthest away from civilization, yet are here seen as being on a level with Greek and Jew. Maybe the Church today also needs to rebalance its rhetoric to talk as much about the new clothes to put on, as the old ones to take off. Nowhere does Paul say this is an instantaneous result of conversion or baptism. Instead, it's a lifelong pursuit after holiness.

To Ponder:

• In an age where everyone seems to construct their own value system, how can the Church best speak about holiness of life?
• How can our baptismal practices best express that sense of dying and rising with Christ?

Prayer
"Make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love." (Singing the Faith 313) Spirit of holiness, empower us to continue the process of dying to the values of this world, and being raised to new life in Christ. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Will Fletcher
Will Fletcher is a presbyter in the Central Sussex United Area. Alongside his church duties, Will is the Ecumenical Officer for the Sussex part of the South-East District. He is married to Helen and they have one son. When not working, Will makes up part of the bass section of Patcham Silver Band.