Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Holy Baptism: Identifying with the death and resurrection of Christ
Galatians 3: 26- 29You who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ (Gal. 3: 27)
The focus of this passage is unity in Christ. Jews or gentile; slave or free; male or female, you all are one in Christ. Through baptism every Christian believer is united in Christ. Everyone has put on Christ. Christ is the garment. We are clothed with Christ. So, there is no old identity, nationality, gender, or the like. Baptism functions as the means to put on Christ and to be united in Him. It gives everyone a new body and a new life.
1) Baptism: To Become the Body of Christ: Baptism is to become the body of Christ. Baptism is not the repetition of Jesus’ baptism. It is the symbol of participating in the death and resurrection of Christ on cross (Romans 6: 3). Baptism is a sacrament. Sacrament is the means that takes us to that real event which happened two thousand years ago. Baptism makes us one with Christ. We become the body of Christ. Paul says that we are baptized to be with Christ and with that baptism we put on Christ. Baptism cloths us with Christ, Paul says. In Garden Eden, when Adam and Eve sinned and became shameful, God gave them a garment and clothed them (Genesis 3: 21) It was the cloth of skin. That was temporary. In Christ God gives us a new cloth, new body and restores humanity to the initial glory, the glory of image and likeness of God. Putting the garment of Christ provides us new body, new personality, and new life. Every old experience, bitterness, illness, hatred, broken experiences are overcome when we put on Christ. God, in Christ offers absolute forgiveness, comfort and peace. Baptism is an entrance into that relationship with God and is the assurance of peace and happiness.
2) Baptism: To become one in Christ: God in Christ gives us new body, new self and new life. This new body is given to all who believes in Him. The newness in Christ makes us one. It unites us. Unity and oneness in family, church and society is experienced and accomplished through the spiritual practices of putting on Christ. When Christ becomes our focus, our desire and our life, we experience better relationship with others. It revitalizes our husband wife relationship, familial relations, relations in our church and society at large. In Christ there is no ethnic discrimination, gender difference or racial superiority. Christ unites us all. As Jesus is filled in our body, we are able to experience love and relationship in better way. So let’s grow in Christ. Baptism is the beginning of growing in Christ. It gives us love, belongingness and oneness and make out life happy and peaceful with better relationships.
1) Baptism: To Become the Body of Christ: Baptism is to become the body of Christ. Baptism is not the repetition of Jesus’ baptism. It is the symbol of participating in the death and resurrection of Christ on cross (Romans 6: 3). Baptism is a sacrament. Sacrament is the means that takes us to that real event which happened two thousand years ago. Baptism makes us one with Christ. We become the body of Christ. Paul says that we are baptized to be with Christ and with that baptism we put on Christ. Baptism cloths us with Christ, Paul says. In Garden Eden, when Adam and Eve sinned and became shameful, God gave them a garment and clothed them (Genesis 3: 21) It was the cloth of skin. That was temporary. In Christ God gives us a new cloth, new body and restores humanity to the initial glory, the glory of image and likeness of God. Putting the garment of Christ provides us new body, new personality, and new life. Every old experience, bitterness, illness, hatred, broken experiences are overcome when we put on Christ. God, in Christ offers absolute forgiveness, comfort and peace. Baptism is an entrance into that relationship with God and is the assurance of peace and happiness.
2) Baptism: To become one in Christ: God in Christ gives us new body, new self and new life. This new body is given to all who believes in Him. The newness in Christ makes us one. It unites us. Unity and oneness in family, church and society is experienced and accomplished through the spiritual practices of putting on Christ. When Christ becomes our focus, our desire and our life, we experience better relationship with others. It revitalizes our husband wife relationship, familial relations, relations in our church and society at large. In Christ there is no ethnic discrimination, gender difference or racial superiority. Christ unites us all. As Jesus is filled in our body, we are able to experience love and relationship in better way. So let’s grow in Christ. Baptism is the beginning of growing in Christ. It gives us love, belongingness and oneness and make out life happy and peaceful with better relationships.
Prayer
God of love, help us to continually put on Christ and experience newness in our life through our relationships in family, church and society, Amen.
Thought of the day
In our love to Christ we find each other closer in family and society without prejudice and difference, but with affection and love.
Rev. Eappen Varghese
Houston Immanuel Mar Thoma Church.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
Houston Immanuel Mar Thoma Church.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church