Baptism and Sactification

Baptism has always been something I have ignored. I came to faith at a very young age, but I've always neglected baptism because of its serious implication I read in Scripture. I remember having a conversation about baptism a few months ago with my Messianic Rabbi, Matt Koons, which definitely planted a seed in me as I began to ponder the nature and the implications of baptism. It's such a strange thing. I mean, I like to go swimming, and I shower every 3-4 days sometimes... So how is baptism any different? Why is baptism a biblical command? Does baptism change anything? Or is it just an outward sign of an inward change? And if that's true, why is baptism such a big deal? These were some of the questions I began to wrestle with as I thought about baptism. And I don't know if I have any clear answers, but like Sos said in his post, the Spirit does move in baptism. And I believe totally in the power and the gifts of the Spirit.

This past week I have been meditating hard on Romans 6 and how baptism relates to sanctification, because Romans 6 is clearly making a connection between the two. There is a logical shift in Paul's train of thought when the book gets to chapter 6, as he moves from talking about justification to talking about sanctification. And the imagery of baptism is then woven all throughout the chapter.

"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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." -Romans 6:3-4

Like Sos, I do not believe there is any magic in the waters. But I do believe there is power in the Spirit. More than a baptism in water, I desire a baptism in the fires of the Holy Spirit. The water is only a outward proclamation of my desire to be baptized and sanctified by the Spirit. So baptism is not only an expression of the justification I have received in Christ, but it is also an act of submitting myself to the Spirit for the purpose of sanctification.

So, if anybody actually reads this blog, my request is this -that you would read Romans 6 and pray Romans 6 for me. Pray that Romans 6 would happen in me. Pray that my baptism would portray my death in the death of Christ, and my newness of life in the resurrection of Christ. That is what I want my baptism to proclaim tomorrow. I love you all, and know that your prayers mean the world to me.

Uniting myself with Christ,
Danny