Being Identified in Christ

Identify

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him… but this is the judgement, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than Light because their deeds were evil. John 3:16-18

Dear Cooper:

Yesterday I said that somehow Baptism is an expression of God’s Love and that Baptism marks something very important that has happened between God and a beloved child. We said, if Baptism is an expression from God, then it is an act of God’s Grace and reveals that He, not you or me, is up to something. I chose to use the word "mark" because it can be either an action or a thing ... we will talk about that too at some point.

What is God up to then in this act of His Grace? 

Today we will use the verb identify to think about Baptism.

In Baptism, God is somehow seeing us in (or through?) Jesus. Yesterday we looked at Romans 6 saying we are baptized into Jesus. Somehow God sees us together with Jesus Christ crucified and risen from death; He sees us redeemed from the slavery of sin; He sees us restored from the death of separation from Him. By believing in Jesus (a fact NOT an act), God identifies us (sinners) as good – He graciously forgives us. So that is just plain amazing! Right? It is a gift from God in amazing grace. As we receive this gift the Bible says we begin a new life – our old self dies and our new self is born. What marks this new birth? Baptism.

That is why you will hear some Christians say you must be physically immersed in water and then raised up out of it when you are baptized – this puts an emphasis on biblical statements like Romans 6:4 “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” When you think about it – it is a beautiful way to express what is happening in Baptism.

No matter what image, illustration or allegory you choose to use – nothing can fully represent something it is not. A picture is a picture, not the thing itself. As we discussed in an earlier letter, the words, things and actions associated with your Baptism on February 5 are not the Baptism itself (or at least are not exclusively your Baptism) – they are figures, movements and tokens given us by God through His Church to give witness and effect to your Baptism. God Baptizes in His infinite Way but includes the physical nature of the Church in ways that reflect and effect His Love.

So, let’s stop there for today. The big idea here is that in Baptism, God is marking the truth that we have been given a new birth in Him. He identifies us in Jesus and through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection considers us perfect – just like Jesus. Think about that as you read the Gospel of John.

So, a small bit of organizational stuff. Enterprise Free Methodist Church has been offered for your Baptism. It is a wonderful 100-year-old (originally Anglican) church building (2852 County Rd 14, Enterprise, Ontario). It will be opened on Saturday so your mom and grandma’s can decorate it as they see fit (keeping in mind it is a Methodist Church) and so Adda can set up for worship. The Church basement is their “hall” and it has been offered for a post service gathering. Aunt Cathy has also suggested we could gather at our home. This is totally up to your mom and dad.

Also, just a little point, your Baptism is embedded within the Anglican Communion Service so we must remember to use non-alcoholic wine. This simply respects the beliefs of our hosts (the Free Methodist Congregation in Enterprise) and acknowledges the diversity of our friends and relatives – it is so important that every repentant baptized Christian will find welcome at Christ’s table. Also (really important!!!!) is for mom and dad to remember to bring their ‘wedding candle.’

t HE

Saturday, January 7, 2017

What can wash away my sin? ....