Immersed in Christ
- Bishop Keith Butler
- May 29, 2023
- 2 min read
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)
What does Romans 6:3 mean by saying we are baptized into His death? Scripture talks about different baptisms - baptism into Christ, baptism in the Holy Spirit, and water baptism. So, is there only one baptism, or are there multiple? Hebrews 6:1 explains that there is a doctrine of baptisms, and it is important to understand each one.
When we talk about baptism into Christ, it means that we are baptized into the anointing of Christ. The Holy Spirit immerses us into the body of Christ, and we become a part of the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, we learn that this baptism is not by one baptismal pool, lake, or river, but by one Spirit. We are all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or Gentiles, bond or free.
So, what does this mean for us? We are identified with Christ, and through His death and resurrection, we have been given a new life.
Christians display our faith in what happens spiritually through water baptism. It is a symbol of what has happened in the realm of the Spirit to every born-again person. Water baptism symbolizes Christ's death when we go into the water and His resurrection when we come out. We acknowledge that we have been crucified with Christ, and we now have new life in Him.
We are no longer slaves to sin, but are now servants of righteousness. We have been given a new nature and have the Holy Spirit residing in us, which empowers us to live a life pleasing to God. We should, therefore, live in a way that honors God and reflects our new identity in Christ.
Practical Application
Christians should live in a way that honors God and reflects our new identity in Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin, but are now servants of righteousness. Decide to live a life of obedience to His Word and be led by the Holy Spirit.
