Baptism, The Life Of Repentance And Renewal

In my last post I noted that the writer of the Hebrews says that we have been sanctified through Christ's offering of his body—once for all—and also that we are being sanctified by that single offering, that single sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10-14 - ESV). In other words, God for Christ's sake has already declared us to be holy and pure, freed from all guilt for the sake of Christ. And yet we are sinners, carrying in our bodies the stain and impurity of our sinful human nature. Consequently we participate in that process of being made holy. How? How does this go on? How does the Holy Spirit bear witness to us that we are forgiven, that

our hearts are sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water? —Hebrews 10:22 - ESV

The answer lies within that very statement, for it points to our Baptism. The Apostle Peter writes about the water of Baptism. He shows us that Noah and his family were brought safely through the terrifying destruction of the ancient flood through water (Gen. 6:1-18). Then he continues, saying that Baptism corresponds to this act of deliverance. Baptism is the ark, if you will, that saves us. Or to be more accurate, the rescue of Noah and his family was a type or pattern of God's grace and mercy. He chose that family and so delivered them from the judgment that came upon all other men. Baptism is the anti-type of that deliverance, its counterpart. Here are Peter's words,

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. - 1Pe 3:21-22 ESV

What then does God the Father keep saying to us in Baptism? Christ died for you. When he died, you died with him. I have accepted that sacrifice. As a sign and assurance of this I have raised up my Son, never to die again. He has gone into heaven. He is now at my right hand, with angels, authorities and powers subject to him. He rules over all things.

This is why the Apostles urge us to return again and again to Baptism, the Baptism of Christ into which we entered when water was sprinkled or poured upon us. Listen.

How can we who died to sin still live in it? 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. 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. - Rom 6:2-5 ESV

 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. - Eph 4:4-6 ESV

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Gal 3:26-28 ESV

This is sweet comfort indeed. This is why day after day we return to Baptism, the Baptism of Jesus Christ and to the fact that we died with him and rose again on the third day. In Baptism our God has poured His grace out upon us without end. We are forgiven, forgiven, forgiven, day after day after day. We are the children of God, reborn with a new and an ever renewed hope. The Spirit of Christ has been poured out upon us. Our hearts are sprinkled clean. In Baptism we hear this good word over and over again. The Spirit reminds us that we are the church, the Bride of Christ and that

. . . Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. - Eph 5:25-27 ESV

So when your conscience attacks you, when Satan throws your guilt at you, when you begin to wither under the weight and power of your sin, return to Baptism, hear again the Spirit speaking to you, telling you what happened when Christ died and rose again. Hear, rejoice and begin anew to follow Jesus and live the life of Christ.

This, after all, is why Christians make the sign of the cross upon themselves, why they carry crosses over their hearts, around their necks and as rings on their fingers. This is the sign that was put upon our heads and hearts when we had the water of Baptism poured out upon us. We are the baptized children of God in Christ Jesus ! Alleluia!