On the Shoulders of GiantsSample

Baptized into Christ

Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? -Romans 6:3

My baptism was an iconic moment in my journey with Jesus. But what was joy, freedom, and hope for me would have been a nightmare of bondage and hopelessness for slaves in Virginia in 1667.

The beautiful icon of baptism was sullied by an evil decision. Slave owners feared slaves would recognize their faith in Christ and baptism would reveal their equality to their supposed superiors. The Virginia Assembly passed a law that Christian baptism would not free enslaved persons in the colonies, a mockery of the hope of Christian baptism that Paul highlighted in Romans 6.

Christ’s death and burial were followed by His resurrection. Believers’ death and burial to the old way of life are followed by being raised to the hope and freedom to live a new life (Romans 6:4). Believing the gospel and being baptized are not supposed to lead to continued bondage. Baptism symbolizes being united to the Son, who sets us free indeed (John 8:36). It’s also a symbol of the new life we have with the family of God that ought to be characterized by freedom.

Christ exercises full authority to liberate us from the tyranny of personal and systemic sin and to offer us hope of new life in Him. Christian baptism remains one of the most powerful symbols of being clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27) with all the benefits of joy, freedom, and hope.

Marvin Williams

In what ways does baptism symbolize new life to you?

Thank You, Lord, for the freedom from all bondage that we experience because of Your death and resurrection.