Raised Together With Christ

Ephesians 2:1–10 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Baptisms is often the highlight of a churches life. If something exciting, hilarious, or awful is going to happen, it usually involves the baptistry. Whether it is a flood of water, or an embarrassing moment for a pastor, baptisms are something you don’t want to miss.

Leak in the wadders so that it looks like a peed myself.

Cannon ball into the baptistry during a service in Florida.

Wardrobe malfunction.

Mine and Mickey McNeils little secret.

The athletic man that after he was baptized looked at the preacher and yelled, now its your turn, as he tackled the preacher under the water.

But, baptisms are more than a moment of entertainment, they serve a divine purpose.

Now some will equate baptism with salvation based off of passages such as:

Acts 2:38 NKJV

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Yet,

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:38–39

The preposition used here is eis which, with the accusative case, may mean “on account of, on the basis of.” It is used in this way in

1 Peter 3:21 NKJV

21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Yet, here the passage itself states that it is not the water that purifies the soul

Romans 6:1–7 NKJV

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

Now I want to dispel the often taught false doctrine that teaches that baptisms wash away sins. Nothing can be further from the truth, only the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins. Yet, that doesn’t dilute the importance of baptism.

Matthew 10:33 NKJV

33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

However, the crux of baptism is not the water, it is what the baptism represents that is so powerful.

I. From Death to Life

A. From a Dead Future

Romans 2:1–3 NKJV

1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

B. From Dead Works

Hebrews 6:1 NKJV

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

II. From Wrath to Righteousness

A. The wrath of God - The righteousness of Christ

Romans 6:20–22 NKJV

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

B. The wrath of sin on our life - The removal of sins condemnation

Romans 5:18 NKJV

18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

III. From Disgrace of Grace

From a walk of disgrace to a walk of grace

A. The body of sin

Romans 8:1 NKJV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

B. Bondage removed and replaced with blessings

Romans 4:7–8 NKJV

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”