Water Baptism

Baptism Is The Burial Of Our Old Lives

Have you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ? You know the bit about how he died for our sins and then rose from the dead so that we could have eternal life?

I'm sure most of you have but have you ever wondered how an event that happened well over 2000 years ago can possibly relate to us today?

Well it's simple really.

Romans Chapter 6 verses 3 to 7

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:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

You see when you get baptized you were baptized into the death of Jesus Christ. That is how simple it is to have those events that took place over 2000 years to have affect in your life today.

And notice that water baptism is a burial of our old life. Therefore it is always by full immersion going totally under the water. I don't mean to be crude but how ludicrous would it be if when someone died we just sprinkled some dirt over them instead of burying them fully under the dirt.

The real water baptism of the Bible is exactly the same with many today believing sprinkling is enough. It's just as ludicrous because baptism is a complete burial of our old life.

Colossians Chapter 2 verse 12 again points out that it is a burial. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead

You see - buried WITH HIM in baptism. Clearly full immersion. Of course water baptism is how we can have the death of Christ have affect in our lives today but to associate with his resurrection and eternal life, refered to as the operation of God in the above verse, or circumcision without hands in another, is to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

So how can an event that took place more then 2000 years ago have real affect on your life today? Peter puts it simply in Acts Chapter 2 verse 38 ... Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost