It’s a public declaration of internal transformation.
We all have stories of how Jesus has changed our lives. Marriages are restored, addictions are broken, strength is renewed, purpose is rediscovered, emotions are healed, and so much more. And as we have already discussed, transformation continues throughout our lives. Again, baptism itself does not save or transform a person’s heart, but it declares to others that you are a follower of Jesus and is the act of publicly cementing and celebrating what God has done and will continue to do in your life.
It’s a stake-in-the-ground moment to leave sin behind, declare a fresh start, and move towards a better future .
Look what Paul says in Romans 6:3-4: “ Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Baptism is symbolic of what Jesus provides for us in faith. When we place our faith in Jesus, what was and is his is now ours. When we are submerged or immersed in the water, it’s symbolic of how our sin is buried by his death. We can leave that sin behind. When raised up out of the water, our sins are symbolically washed clean by that water. As we wipe water from our eyes, God declares a fresh start and leads us to a better future. Not because we are good. Not because we will never sin. But because of Jesus. He gave us HIS righteousness for OUR sin and paid the penalty we deserve. Through his death, burial, and resurrection, we can leave the power of our sin behind, start clean with a fresh start, and be raised to a better future.
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