Baptism (part 2)

 We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Getting baptized is freeing. 

When you are baptized, a whole new world opens up to you.  For people untouched by Christ, there is only one perspective on life—constantly trying to pick the lesser evil.  Every day we are faced with many decisions, some involving minor things, others of more significance.  But as you weigh your options, every one seems to be freighted with problems.  This is because Satan is a master of illusion—he makes any good option look impossible or unappealing, so you only give serious consideration to the ways that he promotes.

When you are baptized, Jesus enters the picture.  He strips away the devil’s illusions and reveals the truth of things.  With the help of Christ, you can see good options that you never considered before.  When the Son of God is active in your life, the decisions you make can be good and pleasing to God.  Baptism takes away the devil’s undisputed control over your life.

Baptism also saves you from the terrible consequences of death.  When you are baptized, God adopts you into His family of believers. Jesus becomes not only your Savior, but your big brother as well.  In Galatians chapter three Paul says, You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  With this baptismal adoption, you don’t have to wonder how God feels about you—He loves you with an everlasting love.  When you are a member of God’s family, you don’t have to worry about what will happen to you when life comes to an end.  In Romans chapter six Paul writes, don’t you know that that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?  Through baptism, we died and were buried with Christ. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also can live a new life.  God will send His angels to bring your soul to heaven, and when Jesus returns on the last day you will rise from the dead to live forever in the paradise of God.   Baptism is the LORD’s promise of eternal happiness in spite of death.  Through it, you have a place among the one family that will never come to an end.