To Be One in Christ: Being Baptized
The Lord has given us only two sacraments in a Christian’s life: one is being baptized; the other is partaking of the Lord’s supper (also called “the Holy Communion” or “the Breaking of Bread”). These are so that we could share Christ’s life and be part of His life, and in order that we could be one in Christ.
1. Being Baptized is the command from LORD Jesus Christ:
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. ” ( MATTHEW 3:16)
“Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, ” ( MARK 10:39)
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." ” ( MATTHEW 28:19-20)
2. We are baptized to be reborn in Christ:
(1) What we had before were the lives of old mankind -- Adam’s life, that is a life of disobedience to God, being alienated from God, being selfish, greedy and self-proud:
In the beginning, God created this world by the Spirit of God and water (Gen 1:1-2; 2Pe 3:5) in 6 days; and He created man in His image( Gen 1:27). Everything was good. However, Adam and Eve were enticed by the devil and misused the free will to disobey the clear and strict command of God and eat the forbidden fruit. Thus, the original sin enters mankind. The sins alienate men from God. Human beings are born with sins, live in sins and die in sins.
(2) We believe in LORD Jesus Christ’s name and were baptized to be reborn, and became a new mankind -- having the life of Christ:
Because of the great mercy and love of God, when the time had fully come, He gave the salvation through His beloved and completely innocent son -- LORD Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for sins. LORD Jesus Christ is the Head of the new mankind. For those with their mouth that they confess and with their heart that they believe in LORD Jesus Christ’s holy name, God give them the chances to be reborn by the Spirit of Christ and water.
“In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " ” ( JOHN 3:3)
“Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ” ( JOHN 3:5)
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ” ( ROMANS 10:9-10)
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ” ( MARK 16:16)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” ( 1 PETER 1:3)
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. ” ( 1 PETER 1:23)
“he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ” ( TITUS 3:5-6)
The new birth of us is by the Holy Spirit of Christ. Ever since we were baptized into Christ, we have the new life of Christ in us. The life of Christ is a new life of trusting and obeying God, denying oneself and humbling oneself.
3. Being baptized washed our sins away and purified us from all the unrighteousness. Our sins were forgiven and we passed from death to life. Those who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too may live a new life.
“Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ” ( ACTS 2:38)
“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' ” ( ACTS 22:16)
“to make her(church) holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ” ( EPHESIANS 5:26)
“and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ” ( 1 PETER 3:21)
“Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized 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.
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ” ( ROMANS 6:3-11)
“having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ” ( COLOSSIANS 2:12-14)
4. Being baptized into Christ, we received the new life of Holy spirit and are clothed with Christ to become a new creation and to be one in Christ:
“he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ” ( TITUS 3:5-6)
“for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ” ( GALATIANS 3:27-28)
“There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” ( EPHESIANS 4:4-7)
Being baptized into Christ is the beginning of our new life in Christ. We should live in accordance to Holy Spirit, let the spiritual life grow up, let Christ form in us (Gal 4:19), become mature and attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13), and live a Christ’s life to be one in Christ.
This message is enlightened and guided by Holy Spirit. All thanks, praises and glories be to God!
