#DailyDevotion Have You Been Raised To A New Life?

Rom 6:4-11  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.  (5)  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  (6)  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  (7)  For one who has died has been set free from sin.  (8)  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  (9)  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  (10)  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.  (11)  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Baptism is not merely getting wet in water. It is not just getting submerged in water. Baptism is being joined to Christ. This being united with Christ is not just symbolic or parabolic, it is a true and mysterious union with Jesus Christ. When we are baptized at Christ’s command in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual reality takes place. We are joined, body, soul and spirit with Jesus. In baptism we are joined with Jesus’ death. There we have the certainty that the death we deserve has been taken care of and we need not face that death ever again. You actually were and are joined with Jesus on the cross in baptism.”

You are also joined with Christ in his grave. He was buried in the tomb. You are buried in the water. His burial has now become your burial. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, you too are raised in newness of life. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. His life now becomes your life. We have died to our old way of life and have been call to live a new life in Christ Jesus.

Not only have we been raised spiritually with Jesus in baptism, but just as Jesus was raise bodily from the tomb, you too have the promise that your physical body will also rise from the grave on the Last Day when Christ returns. You have been truly and really united with Jesus. What has happened to him will happen to you and where Jesus is so are you. You are one with Jesus in baptism.

Baptism frees us from sin. We don’t have to listen to the dictates of the devil anymore. We don’t have to listen to the impulses of our sinful flesh anymore. Your body, your flesh has been crucified with Jesus. Having died in baptism, you have been set free from sin. If you find yourself in sin, return to your baptism. I don’t be baptized again, but rather remember what Jesus has done for you in baptism, whose you are and who are you. Remember the name of the Christ Jesus is on you and you are his holy temple. Then do not listen to flesh which wants to dominate you again. Let the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins, your baptism rule your life.

Now Jesus has died and risen from the dead, he will never die again. His death was once for all, for all people, for all sin. Being joined with Jesus in baptism you certainly will also rise from the dead to immortality and life. Jesus now lives for God. You too, St. Paul reminds us, consider yourselves as dead to sin, for you really died in baptism and it has lost its claim over you. Daily remember the good news of you baptism, daily or hourly or by the minute or second if necessary. In baptism, you belong to Jesus and to God now. So be alive to God in Christ Jesus. Live as if your sins are forgiven, you have been freed from the power of sin and death. Live as if you will live forever for in Christ Jesus, indeed you will. You need not fear death anymore. You’ve already died. Now you possess eternal life. This is your gift in being baptized into Jesus.

Gracious God and Father, grant us to remember our baptism into Christ Jesus that we may cast away our sinful inclinations and live the life of love you would have us live in the life of Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.