Baptism is Death

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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.

Romans 6:3-4

 

In Romans, Paul makes the case that baptism is death. It is death to self, death to sin, death to all things apart from God. In the early church, and in many churches today, people were baptized as adults in a river. They were fully immersed and held underwater and emerged as a new creation. They were not only cleansed of their sins, but their old self was drowned and left for dead. Baptism into Christ’s death means that our sin died on the cross and that we have new life in the power of the resurrection. This is a powerful and life-giving promise.

In the Lutheran tradition, where we most often baptize very young children with a splash of water, I wonder if we miss the power of baptism into Christ’s death. While I am not suggesting we hold toddlers underwater in the rapids of the Mississippi, I do think we need to internalize the power of baptism as death. If baptism is death then we no longer need to fear our own mortality. If baptism is death then the end of our story has already been written. If baptism is death then we are free to live this life as children of God, walking in newness of life. Baptism is more than forgiveness it is liberation from all that binds us.

This liberation however does not except us from the real struggle of human existence. It does not prevent human suffering. But what it does offer is real hope in the midst of suffering. (see Romans 5 Boast in Hope and Suffering ) We have hope because we know how the story ends for us and for the world: redemption, reconciliation, and the Kingdom of God. In baptism, this promise is secure and when we understand and accept this promise, it has the power to change our lives. May we trust the promise and walk each day as a child of God and in newness of life.

Saved by Grace

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. Romans 2:1

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he offers a comprehensive vision of the salvation of God and what it means to live our life in response. The first three chapters spell out our deep need for God’s grace. We need God’s grace so desperately because we are mired in sin. The truth is we are not “ok” in our relationship with God. On our own merits we fall short and are fully deserving of God’s wrath. It is only by the grace of God, through the death and resurrection of Christ, that we can be saved.

Take, for example, the sin of judging others. This is something we all do, all the time. We judge people by what they wear, how they talk, how much money they have, etc. We also have a very human tendency to judge the morality of others as well. I have noticed that when we judge other’s behavior our boundary of what is righteous behavior and what is not is just below our own behavior. “Those people” we sneer silently (or aloud) and we think of ourselves as somehow better or superior. Paul wrote to the Romans about this very human tendency not to condemn them but to force them to take inventory of their own sin.

You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” ³Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ⁵But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. Romans 2:2-5

The truth is we are all sinners, whether we know it or not, and in deep need of God’s grace. In Romans, Paul makes clear that on our own we are nowhere in our relationship with God. On our own we deserve, and will receive, God’s wrath. But God sent Jesus Christ into the world for our salvation. Not for perfect people, or good people, but all people. All people have access to salvation. All people, no matter who they are or what they done, can be saved. This is the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.

But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ²⁴they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24

Let us know clearly our deep need for forgiveness. Let us know clearly the infinite love and grace of God. And let us live life, loving God and one another, in response.