Saturday 19 January 2008
- Bible Book:
- Romans
"Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life". (v.4)
Background
In these verses we find references to our participation in thedeath, burial and resurrection of Christ.
The basic theme of the beginning of chapter 6 is that the death andresurrection of Jesus Christ are not only historical facts andsignificant doctrines, but also personal experiences, since throughbaptism we have come to share in them ourselves.
It is far from certain whether the first baptisms were by totalimmersion. Jesus's baptism is portrayed by him wading in the riverup to his waist, while John poured water over him.
The symbolic truth of baptism is found in the dying to the old lifeand rising to the new. Baptism then, could be regarded as a smallfuneral uniting us with Christ in his death and resurrection.
To Ponder
What does it mean for you to have participated inthe death, burial and resurrection of Christ?
Christ offers us a 'new life' in him. In whatways do we live as people of the resurrection?