Gospel News — Sep-Dec 2013

Baptist, he is baptised into Jesus by immersion in water, and rises from the waters of death as a new man of spirit. Paul further helps us: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that as many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised 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 (united) in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man (flesh) is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:1-6). By burial of baptism, the old man of sin is crucified, dead to sin, and rises from the water as the new man of the spirit.

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Paul also wrote to his brethren in Colosse concerning those who are: "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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:12-14).

If Jesus had not risen from the dead, how could we be "born of water and of the spirit", or raised up a new man, a new spirit, with the hope of hearing the words of Jesus? How could "the son of man come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then reward every man according to his works?" (Matthew 16:27). Jesus could not be in his Father's presence if he had not been resurrected, with the man of flesh conquered, when he cried out: "It is finished!"