Baptism - United with Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
How many of you can fly?
It’s a recurring dream I have - flying.
But the reality is we can all fly - in a plane.
When you fly it’s like your whole world changes - you see the world differently
You feel free (Some of you just feel nauseous!)
The plane enables you to do something you could never do by your own ability
Romans 6:1–11 (ESV)
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Baptism is a display of our union with Christ.
Union with Christ
Christ secures our salvation
(In the envelope)
Everywhere the envelope goes - the letter goes.
Holy Spirit is the seal
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
(Seal on the envelope)
Baptism is the sign
(Stamp on the envelope)
ILLUST - wedding ring as a symbol.
At weddings the husband and wife make a commitment to each other that is invisible and I ask if there is a symbol of the vows they made to each other.
The rings
I usually say something like this:
“These rings represent (are a symbol of) the vows and promises you’ve willingly exchanged.
They are whole and unbroken as is your commitment to each other.”
Both the symbol and what it symbolizes are important!
ILLUST - Simply wearing a wedding ring does not make me married!
(Baptism does not save you!)
When you’re married it is important to express it.
Because just like a wedding ring the relationship is precious and permanent.
(my wedding ring is tattooed to show this)
Our union with Christ has changed us in three areas that we could not change ourselves:
Identity
Identity
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Dead to alive
Unforgiven to forgiven
In the days of the Early Church, baptism was the clear identifier that you were a part of the Church.
For those who lived (and still live) in places where Christianity is illegal and Christians are persecuted, baptism MARKS you as a Christian
We are all wired to find our identity. We order them in our lives in the order that we believe they give us a sense of importance.
Me (in no order) - pastor, father, husband, soccer player
Because we are all made in the image of God, we all chase an identity
If my primary identity is in being a pastor - it could fail,
husband - could fail, soccer player - has failed!
What is your primary identity?
Ability
Ability
When was the last time you were at a funeral and they waited to see if the loved one would sit up and walk out of the room?
4 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.
How does a dead person have the ability to walk? They DON’T!
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Christ’s ability is replaces our inability.
We can now do what we could not do before — we can walk in a newness of life
Before I was. . . Now I am. . .
Now I love, Now I care, Now I trust God. . .
Victory
Victory
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
ILLUST - Hiroo Onoda - second lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII. In 1945, Onada found himself on Lubang Island in the Philippines. His order from the emperor was to NOT SURRENDER.
— Did not believe flyers and letters from family that the war was over
— Continued living in the jungle and fighting with local police and others for another 29 years.
— In 1974, a former commanding officer flew from Japan to the island to issue a command to formally relieve Onoda from his duty.
Onoda continued to serve his old master even though there was a new authority.
Sadly, many Christians live similar lives. They continue to serve their old master of sin, struggling and fighting even though there is a new authority!
Baptism reminds us that, for the Christian, the battle for sin is over! We have victory!!
Sin and death no longer have dominion (no longer rule) over Christ and, because of our union with him, sin and death no longer have dominion over us either!
You can live out of freedom from sin rather than in the jungles of sin and death.
Verse 5
Paul states:
IF if we have been united with him in a death like his (and Paul is assuming that his audience has been united through faith in Jesus), [then] we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Paul can make that assumption, but I am always hesitant to make that assumption.
How confident are you that you are united with Christ — That you will (and do) have eternal life?
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You can be united with Christ if you place your trust in Christ through faith.
