In this sermon, Pastor JR reminds us that baptism and faith go hand in hand. It signifies our union with Jesus. Our sins become Christ's, and His grace, life, and salvation become ours, transforming our identity and inaugurating a new life filled with power and promise.

Notes: Text: Romans 6:1-11 + Baptism is empty without faith and faith expresses itself through baptism

+ Baptism signifies and assures our union with Jesus

1 Corinthians 1:30

“And if they are one flesh and there is between them a true marriage … it follows that everything they have they hold in common, the good as well as the evil. Accordingly, the believing soul can boast of and glory in whatever Christ has as though it were its own, and whatever the soul has Christ claims as his own. Let us compare these and we shall see inestimable benefits. Christ is full of grace, life, and salvation. The soul is full of sins, death, and damnation. Now let faith come between them and sins, death, and damnation will be Christ’s, while grace, life, and salvation will be the soul’s; for if Christ is a bridegroom, he must take upon himself all the things which are his bride’s and bestow upon her the things that are his. If he gives her his body and very self, how shall he not give her all that is his? And if he takes the body of the bride, how shall he not take all that is hers?”

-       Martin Luther.

+ Baptism gives us a new crucified and risen identity in Jesus

+ Baptism inaugurates a new life with power and new capacities in Jesus

2 Corinthians 5:17

+ Baptism makes a promise to us about our future

+ Know and Count these things to be true