Dead to Sin but Alive because of Christ
“What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God’s wonderful kindness will show up even better? 2 No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? 3 Don’t you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? 4 When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.“
Romans 6:1-4 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Baptism by immersion in water represents and enacts what it means to be Christian. You have been called to be one with Jesus Christ. To die to what you were, before Jesus came into your life; and to come alive to the whole and complete person God planned for you to be, because Jesus is now in your life (Galatians 2.20). This is not something you can do by yourself; but Jesus Christ makes it possible. He died for you. He rose from death for you. He makes you a new you (Galatians 3.26-27)!
In baptism, having been plunged deep, you were lifted up from the depths of the water, longing and praying that the Holy Spirit come upon you (Acts 19.2-6). You embarked upon a journey to be shaped into the person God always purposed you to be (2 Corinthians 3.16-18).
In coming to immersion in water, some preparation will normally take place before candidates are admitted to baptism. It may be very simple: having made a profession of faith, they are accepted for baptism. More commonly, there will be interviews with the candidate, prior to baptism, to clarify that they have come to understand what it means to confess, according to the first part of our Declaration of Principle, Jesus Christ as their God and Saviour. Additionally, there may be special classes held, to prepare the candidate for baptism. The decision to admit candidates to baptism is usually entrusted to the appointed leadership of the local church.
In most of our churches, baptism will take place during a worship service, in either a pool that is built into the fabric of the church building or in a mobile baptistry, kept or borrowed for the occasion. Some churches favour baptisms in a river or, on occasions where they are nearby, a loch or the sea. The baptismal party often comprises two ministering persons who, together with the 69 candidate, enter the water. The candidate may be asked questions, prior to the moment of baptism: some of these questions go back to the earliest baptismal practices of the church. Among the more common are, ‘Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord?’ and, ‘Do you renounce Satan and all his ways?’
Once the questions are over and the candidate has answered them in the affirmative, the candidate for baptism takes up position in the water, the others standing one on either side. The water will probably be of a depth of between three feet and waist height. The candidate is firmly held and then supported as they lean back into the water, until they are fully immersed.
Imagine the sensation. Above the waters, the anticipation and sound of music, or the chatter and prayers of the assembled witnesses. Then, being laid back down under the water. Immersion and silence there. Suddenly, lifted in strong arms upwards out of the depth of water and back onto your feet, embraced and supported by your helpers. You are baptised! Following this, a prayer is expressed and a blessing declared. Then you step up and out of the waters.
For those who are baptised in such a manner, this is a powerful experience, full of rich imagery. When it has been explained to a candidate that this act of baptism represents our being united with Jesus Christ, in His death; and also being raised up with Him into His resurrection life, the reality of what Jesus Christ has done for us and now does for us begins to saturate our senses. This was how the Apostle Paul represented the practice of believer’s baptism to the early Roman church (Romans 6.1-4).
(This is an abridged extract from BECOMING WHO WE ARE, by Rev Jim Purves, Baptist Union of Scotland. For the full version visit https://d2he42ayrxly0i.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/25084957/Becoming-Who-We-Are-1.pdf