Baptism

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
Listen from:
The world, in the government of God, stands under the sentence of judgment for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Each of us once stood before God under that sentence. By being baptized unto Jesus Christ, we, before God, the judge of all, were baptized unto His death and are no longer under that sentence. He died; we died with him. God raised Him from the dead and has given Him all power in heaven and earth. We, by faith in Him, own Him as Lord and walk in newness of life, redeemed by the precious blood of Him who died for us. In God’s government, we now occupy a new place on earth — no longer under the sentence of judgment, but as part of the kingdom of God on earth and having a reserved place in the heavenly kingdom. If some by baptism claim a place in the kingdom but are not real in their faith, they in due time will be exposed and cast out, for such cannot “inherit” the kingdom.
More wonderful still, God has raised and glorified His Son, who now sits at His right hand, and He is calling out a heavenly people to be the body and bride of His Son. After He glorified Him, God formed that body on the day of Pentecost by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We who have now trusted in our Saviour Jesus Christ have been indwelt with that Holy Spirit of promise and added to that body, God’s church.