Raise To Walk In Newness of Life

    
    Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 (NKJV)
    
    When someone gives their life to Christ, and they accept Him as their Lord and Savior, I encourage them to tell someone that they know about their decision to follow Jesus, to read the Word and pray daily, to continue to fellowship with Christian Brothers and Sisters in Church, and I also encourage them to be baptized. In short, I want them to identify with their new life.
    
    I tell them that Baptism doesnt have anything to do with their salvation. Their salvation is based on God's free gift of grace and their belief in Jesus Christ, and their receiving that gift in faith. They would be saved whether they were baptized or not. There are many religions that claim that a person has to be baptized a certain way to be saved, and some believe that the act of baptism in itself will save. But the Word of God does not support this, and it is very misleading and damaging, as there are people walking through life believing that they have been saved by this act. 
    
    The act of Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward commitment to give your life to Jesus, and to follow Him. It is a way of identifying ourselves with Him as one of His followers. We are baptized unto Christ, not a religion.
    
    Think of a marriage ceremony. The vows are made, and the commitment is verbalized. Then the wedding is witnessed by the exchanging of rings between the bride and the groom. They are a symbol of each others commitment to each other. Now if they didnt have rings, they would still be married because of the vows that were made between each other.
    
    Lets say that the bride said to the groom, Hey, Im not really into rings. I dont need to show my commitment in that way. Well, truth be told, they would still be married, but if I was the groom, I would seriously wonder about my new wifes commitment, and why she wouldnt want to be associated with me by wearing a ring. 
    Thats the same thing with Baptism; it is our wedding ring that we put on when we are joined in union with the Lord.
    
    But notice the verse goes on to say, that when we are baptized, we are buried with Him through this process. When we submerge our bodies under the water, it represents the death of our old sinful life, just as Jesus was buried when He took on the sins of the world when he was crucified. 
    
    Now when we are brought back up out of the water, we have been raised to walk in a newness of life. Again, this is a symbol of Jesus resurrection and our spiritual resurrection to our new Christian life. We have been given the same power that raised Jesus from the grave to live out our Christian life through the Holy Spirit of God that now lives within us.
    
    When we think of Baptism in this way, we will live accordingly to this proper perspective. People will be watching us since we have publicly said that we are united with Christ. They will be wanting to see how we now live our lives, as to whether we are faithful in our new relationship. It is an awesome privilege to be united, and we have great benefits as well. But we also have great responsibility. 
    
    Are you publicly identified as being united with Christ? If so, then live accordingly to that profession you made. If not, then think about putting on that ring. It wont make you any more saved, but it will keep you accountable knowing what it represents.
    
    STUDY QUESTION: What does Paul remind us about Baptism in the verse above?
    
    PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you made that public profession of faith? If not, are you willing to?
    
    APPLICATION: Lets live as though we are the bride of Christ, and be faithful in our actions so that they reflect what would bring glory and honor to His name.