In recent posts, I have discussed the fact that there is more to salvation than many people realize. Not only have our sins been forgiven, but the power of sin has actually been broken. While that is wonderful, there is still more…

Raised with Christ

Romans 6:6 makes it very clear that the person we used to be under the dominion of sin actually died together with Christ. This is how the dominion of sin was broken. So, we died together with Christ, but did you know that we were also raised with Him? This is clearly outlined in Ephesians 2:4 – 7.

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!— ⁶ and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. NET

If you read the first three verses of this chapter, it sets forth a vivid picture of our condition in sin. We were spiritually dead and separated from God. But, because of His great love and mercy, He actually raised us from the dead when He raised Christ from the dead. That means we are no longer spiritually dead, but we are now alive with a new relationship with the Father.

If that isn’t good enough, did you notice that the Father not only raised us to life with Christ, but He also seated us together with Christ in the heavenly places? Where we were once slaves under the dominion of sin, He has now raised us up to a place of royalty where we can actually reign in life with Christ (Romans 5:17). Wow!

Baptism

This is why every baptism is both a funeral and a celebration. Notice what Paul writes in Romans 6:3 – 4.

³ Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. NET

When we are baptized, we are placed under the water where breathing ceases. This represents the death of our old man with Christ. By this act, we are acknowledging that the person we used to be no longer exists. Then we are brought up out of the water. When we take that first new breath, it represents our being raised with Christ and receiving new life from Him. That is why it is totally appropriate to celebrate when we witness someone coming up from the waters of baptism!

We Are Free

Friends, the truth is, we are free. The power of sin has been broken. We have been raised to a new life of reigning with Christ. This is the grace of God. This is what enables us to embark on the journey of living in the Reign.

M