Baptized to Death

Being baptized is a three part process like sanctification and repentance are. You were this, then this happened, then you were that, or you were here, then this happened, then you were there, or you thought this way, then this happened, then you thought this other way.

An image that appears often in discussions of baptism in the Bible is the question of what someone was baptized into. Examples of baptismal targets include Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2), the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), Christ (Galatians 3:27), John’s baptism (Acts 19:3), and Christ’s death (Romans 6:3).

Another common image related to baptism is the medium through which we are processed. Examples include water (Matthew 3:6), the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8), the cross (Luke 12:50), a cloud (1 Corinthians 10:2).

Being baptized into Christ’s death means that we were somewhere in an unconverted condition and were baptized through some process into the death of Jesus. From that point of access to Him, we gained the rest of our story from the rest of His story. He connected with us in death so that we could be connected in Life.

Because of that initial access, we now are seated in Him in heavenly places in His throne. We are members (parts) of His body – the believers whose spirits have been reborn of God and are now one with Him and share His nature.

Like entering the Kingdom as little children, death is a starting place. Don’t stay childish in the Kingdom. Don’t stay dead. Rise, and shine, and walk in His glory.

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.                  Romans 6:4