“Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

This past Sunday, we were blessed as a church to experience the baptisms of six individuals who shared their testimonies of how God had brought them to faith in Jesus and then were plunged beneath the waters and raised back up. In Romans 6, Paul reminds us that our baptism is a visual reminder that we have died to our sin and have been raised to new life in Christ, that just as Jesus was buried and was raised from the dead, so we have become new creations in Christ. The old has gone, and the new has come. With that in mind, I invite you to meditate on the wonder of this new creation that Christ has called you to:

We who once were enemies of God now live at peace with Him

Colossians 1:21-22 - Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation

We who once were under His wrath now are objects of His great love

Ephesians 2:1,3-5 - As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved.

We who once were destined for eternal separation from God are now destined for the eternal joy of heaven

John 3:18 - Whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

We who were slaves to sin have been set free to know and love our God

Romans 6:18,22-23 - You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness... 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We who once were spiritual orphans have now been adopted by a Heavenly Father.

Ephesians 1:4-6 - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

We who once were spiritually blind now can see

2 Corinthians 3:15-16 - Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

We whose hope once rested in the ephemeral things of this world now have our hope placed on the solid rock of Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 15:19-22 - If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

We who once were purposeless now have an eternally significant purpose

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We who never truly knew if we were lovable or valuable know that God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Baptism is a visual reminder that the old way of living, a way without a sure hope, a certain love, or an eternal significance, has died. Our sins are paid for, our shame and guilt forever banished, and we are free, loved by the only one whose opinion really matters. Walk in the truth of the new creation you are in Christ! Amen!