FAITH: Comes by Hearing the Word of God
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
FAITH: Comes by Studying the Word of God
Historians agree that the mode of baptism in the early church was immersion. The believer was “buried” in the water and brought up again as a picture of death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism by immersion (which is the illustration Paul is using) pictures the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. It is an outward symbol of an inward experience. Paul is not saying that their immersion in water put them “into Jesus Christ,” for that was accomplished by the Spirit when they believed. Their immersion was a picture of what the Spirit did: the Holy Spirit identified them with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. 1
FAITH: Comes by Obeying the Word of God
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
Thank You for dying on the cross for our salvation. Thank You for the waters of baptism. Thank You for giving us a way to publicly proclaim our life in You. Thank you for making us Your disciples. There is no greater place to be on the earth, than to be in fellowship with You. May we live our lives with the daily reminder that we have been identified with Your death, burial, and resurrection. You are our hope and glory.
FAITH: Comes by Experiencing the Transforming Work of God
We live, because He lives; and we love, because He first loved us.
FAITH: Comes by Praying with the Word of God
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? 2 Corinthians 13:5
Dear Father, please teach me to live a “Christ in me” life…in Jesus Name. Amen.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 531). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
