Bible Reading: 2 Chron 9; Col. 2: 1-12
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” – Colossians 2:12 (KJV)
Water baptism is being immersed in water to signify the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Since it is meant to show alignment of the immersed person with the death of Christ, it can only take place after the person has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
It is a three stage event.
1. The person to be baptized is to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour so that his sins would be forgiven by Jesus. By implication such a person would be dead to sin in that he would no longer be interested in anything that may cause him to sin. His focus would be on Jesus all the time.
2. Having been dead to sin, the person is now immersed in a pool of water. This symbolises burial of the man that is dead to sin. This is why sprinkling of water cannot be water baptism as it cannot qualify as burial.
3. The third stage is the coming out of water which is akin to resurrection of Christ. That is what the scripture states in Colossians 2:12 (KJV), “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Just as Jesus resurrected after burial gloriously so also the person that comes out of water is made a new man. He is no more a man of sins but a man with a clean slate. As the scripture says in 2 Cor 5:17, he is a new creature.
The person that comes out of water is a man full of authority of the Lord. However his development in the things of the Spirit depends on how he fellowships with the Holy Spirit in praises, worship, prayer with and without understanding and more importantly, how obedient he lives with the word of God.
What is the significance of water Baptism? It implies a spiritual covenant with Christ and shows your readiness to follow Christ till the end. As the risen Jesus is the victorious Lord who has the authority of heaven and earth, so are you when you emerge from water.
Action: Recognize your new authority as a water baptized Christian and begin a closer work with Christ by fellowshipping more with him through praises and prayer.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero