Identity
Identifying ourselves should be no big deal by now. We show our license when we cash a check, go for a visa, verify a credit card—like I said, no big deal.
But identifying can be a HUGE deal.
Take for instance being a Jew in 1942 Germany. Each Jewish person had to wear a gold star of David on their lapel as a sort of scarlet letter. To be identified as a Jew meant having your rights and privileges taken at a minimum, and possible imprisonment or even death at most. To be sure, some did everything they could not to be identified as a Jew under those circumstances. And who would blame them?
But then I think of the way that Jesus told us to identify ourselves as His—through baptism. The simple act of being emerced in water and then being brought back out signifies our belief that Jesus died, was buried and rose again. Romans 6 explains it very well:
1-3So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!
3-5That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.
6-11Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did. Romans 6:1–11
Could it be any more clear?
Once you place your trust in Christ Jesus for salvation, you need to identify with Him through baptism. It’s a simple act of obedience. It’s a beautiful picture!
And what’s the drawback? The disadvantage? Through baptism we alighn ourselves with the living God! We announce to everyone that the God of the universe is our Father! We rejoice in His gift of eternal life!
So what are you waiting for?!
This weekend at Southbrook Weddington (next weekend at Southbrook Monroe) we will be having a baptism service for all those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ but not yet professed Him through baptism.
Hope to see everyone there!