A few thoughts on Baptism

(Post 9 of  100)

Like so many aspects of Christianity we too often relegate them to the natural man's perspective.  I think we are guilty of that with regard to Baptism.  The party line, as I see it is, "Baptism is and outward sign of and inward change" or maybe "A public acknowledgement of one's faith in the Lord Jesus."  Now I can see that this may be true for many, but I think this perspective fails to fully recognize the divine and supernatural aspect of this "Sacrament."

I really like to think that my faith is a supernatural thing.  By faith I have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, but this it not just a personal decision, like we would like to believe.  We are told in Scripture that we did not choose Him first.  We are told that it is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of sin and righteousness.  We cannot relegate this to mere human choice.  It is God working in us that leads us to repentance.  Through that repentance (a change of heart and direction) we are led to faith in Jesus Christ.  When we come to this point we begin the process of transformation from the old man who is sinful and self-serving in nature to the new creature recreated in the image of almighty God.  Ephesian's 4 is a description of that process of putting off the old corrupted man and his ways and putting on a new persona made in the image of God.

But now to Baptism.  In chapter 6 of Romans, the Apostle Paul tells us that when we are baptized, we participate in Christ's death.  We are buried with Christ (v. 3).  This is the death of the old person.  It is both conscious choice (choosing to leave our old life behind - die to it) and a supernatural act where the Holy Spirit begins a transformative work by killing the old self (we are crucified with Christ v. 6-7).  It doesn't stop there however.  We are also told that in our baptism that we participate in Christ's resurrection.  We are given the opportunity, the choice and ability to walk in the newness of life (v.4).

I believe that choice plays its part in that we each can decide to cooperate with the working of the Holy Spirit or not.  We can allow our old self to perish in the baptistery and cooperate with the transformative work of the Holy Spirit or we can merely go through the motions and deny the transforming power of our participation in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I would like to add that our Salvation is not the result of some holy formula.  It is a miraculous work as we participate in the divine dance with our Creator.  For each of us this process may look a little different.  My personal experience has been that the process has been long and drawn out.  For others, I have seen such radical transformation that seems to take place in the fraction of a second.  Whatever the case or whomever it is that participates in this miraculous thing we call salvation, we must acknowledge the supernatural aspect of Baptism.  It is not just getting wet, it is not just a public confession.  Baptism is a supernatural participation the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God in peace