Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-11-06-2018

This is devotional thought number 6 in our devotional series, “The Protest is Not Over: Transformation is Key to Reformation.”

“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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:3–5).

#wordsmatter

Baptism is a wonderful blessing to those who understand and experience it. As we have said so many times before, we are sinners. We were born this way. John said that whatever is born of flesh, is flesh. Whatever is born of the (Holy) Spirit is holy. This is why we need to be reborn in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Flesh will not enter the kingdom. That is to say, the unregenerate heart cannot dwell in the direct presence of God; therefore, those who don’t submit to God and receive new hearts and a right spirit, cannot inherit everlasting life. Conversely, those who surrender to God, by faith, will inherit the saint’s reward.

Where does baptism come into the picture? Bible baptism is a symbol of us dying to our old sinful ways, being buried, and then being resurrected to live according to Jesus’ example. Only those who are dead to sin can follow God’s precepts. Pretty simple, huh? Well, water baptism is also an outward action that illustrates an inward confession (or even change). This is why it makes sense that the only valid type of baptism, where water is concerned is by immersion. Do you remember me saying, “#wordsmatter”? In our theme text, Paul said that in baptism, we are buried. Buried. If someone were to sprinkle dirt on your head, would that bury you? If someone picked up a shovel full of dirt and flashed it all in your face and hair, would that suffice to bury you? The answer it too obvious to write. In like manner, our past sinful selves cannot; and our commitment to those lifestyles to be destroyed cannot be rightly symbolised by pouring or sprinkling water on us in place of baptism by immersion. Not only that, the rest of the text identifies us being raised to live in the newness of life. Newsflash: one cannot be raised, who has not been buried. Thus it is that God’s guidance for water baptism by immersion is key. Notice, I keep using the term, “water” with the baptism principle. That is because while the water symbolizes cleansing and burying our past sinful selves, the transformation process that makes this all work is done by the Holy Spirit. The Bible enjoins that we be baptized by the water and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches and empowers us to do all that Jesus commanded. Without the Holy Spirit, those who do get baptized just come out of the water wet.

Aren’t you glad that God gave a powerful symbol and pattern for us to follow as we commit ourselves to Him? Wouldn’t it be evil of us to pick another method and then be upset like Cain when God does not accept it? Jesus came to give us a living color example while He saved us from our sins. The Bible says in Matthew 3 that after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, He came up out of the water, and the Holy Spirit came upon Him as His Father pronounced His approbation for His Son. We too, if we surrender like Jesus surrendered, and follow His example, will please our heavenly Father. What better position can we be in, than in the favor of God?—L. David Harris (