When someone rises out of the precious waters of baptism, is there something different about them? Based solely upon appearance, no changes are discernible. Yet, from a spiritual perspective, everything about them has changed! We know this because the Bible reveals that a remarkable transformation has taken place. It describes the conversion with some rather peculiar verbiage. For example, when a penitent believer is immersed into water, they are said to have “died and been buried” (Rom. 6:1-4). It is also called being “born again” (John 3:3-7). Other passages describe it as “putting on Christ” (Gal. 3:27); becoming a “babe in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1); being a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17); or even “putting on the new man” (Eph. 4:24). So which is it? Have they died? Are they re-born? Have they become a new man, or are they now a babe? The answer is, all of those things!
While the exterior aspect of the individual shows no variation, nor was anything “magical” happening during the physical act of baptism – after all, it’s just water – there is, indeed, much happening within the spiritual realm that our physical eyes simply cannot see. The Apostle Peter explains it in this manner, “There is also an anti-type which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (1 Pet. 3:21). Thus, the act of baptism is part of a process, or what is also known as “the plan of salvation,” that God ordained (cf. Rom. 6:17). Paul provides a little further insight, “… you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11). These verses clearly indicate that something very special happens when one is baptized.
Since we cannot actually see what is taking place, the Bible uses several metaphors and phrases of figurative language that we can relate to in order to help us understand what this act of obedience truly fulfills. Essentially, what happens is that while our flesh is just getting wet, our soul is being translated into the kingdom of the Son (Col. 1:13), or added to the church, as depicted in Acts 2:47. These two phrases both mean the same thing. In other words, the soul of the individual is being conveyed from one state of being (that which was lost) to a different state of being (that which is saved). The result of the transformation means that the individual who comes up out of the water is no longer the same person that entered the water. How do you describe such a change? You do it with all those many descriptors given in Scripture … and oh, what beautiful descriptions they are!
Notice that each depiction of the Christian has one thing in common: a new beginning at life. It is not just a better life on this earth, but eternal life, a life that extends far beyond this present world (John 10:10; 1 John 2:25). Just as a newborn child has the blessing of a brand-new life laying before them, so does the born again disciple. We can call it a gift of second chance. This is because on our own, we are doomed to eternal condemnation due to the sin in our lives (Rom. 3:23; 6:23), but God provided away of escape, another trajectory that has a far better destination (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). Therefore, one has to make a choice, they must rid themselves of their old ways, and submit to the will of God, so they too can have the free gift that He offers to all mankind (Rom. 5:18).
So, how about you? Does this sound like something worth pursuing? Isn’t eternal life worth more than all the world? After all, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26) I pray this has encouraged you to see the true impact baptism has on one’s life. It is a metamorphosis of the soul to a new life that gains “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). I pray that YOU do have that life God offers to all, or you will seek it out today!
Troy Spradlin
