01/15/2025
Baptism, it is a death and resurrection in our spiritual lives, but as I read my morning devotional regarding it, I began to think about how baptism is much more than a symbol... it is an actual death. One person dies to give birth to the new in glory.
“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 6:4 KJV
I watch the baptistery on Sunday morning's when people are baptized, and I am excited about the prospect of this new life that is coming to the Lord. I concentrate on the birth, but there is a death occurring in those waters as well. This is the death of who we once were and the birth of a new being, a new creation in Christ.
Oswald Chambers wrote of the seriousness of this moment in this way:
"We skirt the cemetery and all the time refuse to go to death. It is not striving to go to death, it is dying, "baptized into His death." - Oswald Chambers
Chambers refers to this as a "White Funeral." This is a funeral in which we bury the person we were and become, as it were, like the risen Christ. So in this event someone dies and a new person is born. If that isn't what we felt as the water rushed over us, then we missed the enormity of what was happening. We miss the funeral on the way to the birthday. We are trying to live anew without giving up the old to death.
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. At that moment his childhood-self died, and Jesus the Christ rose from the water. He was always the Son of God, but this act signified a change... a new life that would lead Him to suffering and then to a physical death; followed by resurrection. He was moving through the death of the law and all that had come before, and birthing what was to be... the fullness of grace.
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:13-17 KJV
True Baptism changes us, it redirects our spiritual lives and it is both a physical death and resurrection that causes our earthly selves to die and be reborn into the new life of faith that Jesus brought forth. We are joining Him in the realization of prophesy and it is complete with the infusion of grace into us.
So, when we are baptized we step into funeral waters where our bodies will be washed and prepared for burial, but when the "White Funeral" is complete, we rise into a new life from the waters of birth. The seriousness of this death should go with us into the water and the rebirth and dedication to God should rise with us from it. Is this what we long for? Is this what we felt in the moment of baptism?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for baptism and the death of who I once was. I thank you for giving me a new life that is righteous and is more than merely checking off another task on my quest for heaven... baptism is my becoming your child by birth, and the true beginning of my sanctification. Lord, lift up my spirit from the baptismal waters in faith and service to you and your will, but also lift my human body from the squalor in which it was mired for so long, and present it to those around me as a new and glorious reflection of your son Jesus. Lord let all see the man who rises from the waters of baptism as a new creature, and an image of your Son. Help me in that moment of transformation to let loose of what was and hold tight to what is now. Make me either hot or cold so that I will be pleasing to you, and not destined to be spit from your mouth. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who loves and longs for me, and Holy are you who buries me in Christ that I might be made new by being born again in Him. Merciful and full of grace are you who takes the old and reforms it, who takes me in your hands and molds me into a new vessel suitable to hold your love, and strong enough to contain all of eternity. Praised be your name Father, for wonderful are you who is the embodiment of life, and the sole victor over death. Hear this my prayer as I ask in the name of Jesus that you lift me from the waters of baptism as a new creation, your lovely new vessel made of dust and clay yet stronger than steel, and more beautiful than diamonds and jewels. Here me now as I worship you, and sing your song of life and death, joy and peace, and of your overflowing grace forevermore. Hear me as I shout Hallelujah and then whisper your name with my every breath. Hear all of creation say AMEN! as you raise me from the waters of baptism as Jesus was, meant to please you with my newness of life for all eternity.
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:3-4 ESV
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16
Rich Forbes