The Resurrection and baptism
The resurrection has always been the pivot point of the Gospel. The teaching of the resurrection was relentlessly the main thrust of the message that the apostles proclaimed to the world. The Apostle Paul tells us without the resurrection, we are still dead in our sins. It was Christ’s resurrection from the dead that was His ultimate triumph over Satan. The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that Jesus is the Son of God and that He has the power to save us from our sins. The teaching of the resurrection was what always got people into trouble with those who opposed them. The resurrection was the “flash point.”
Acts 4:1-3
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.
With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to
dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?”
Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news
about Jesus and the resurrection.
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
It is no wonder that the
resurrection is such an important component of the Good news. It is by the
resurrection that God has proven to the world that Jesus Christ is indeed the
prophesied Redeemer. The resurrection is the ultimate miracle.
Romans 1:1-4
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle
and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through
his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human
nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his
resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
In
the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people
everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with
justice by the man he has appointed. He has given
proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
So what does the
resurrection have to do with baptism? Let’s look at what the apostles Peter and
Paul taught:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of
dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Peter ties together
three things in these verses:
1.)
New birth (See John 3:1-5)
2.)
Baptism
3.)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ
Peter tells us that
baptism saves us by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ and baptism is a new birth. This is in perfect harmony
with the rest of the scriptures. Paul explains how the resurrection and baptism tie together:
Romans 6:3-5
Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised
from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united
with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with
him in his resurrection.
One cannot teach baptism correctly
without teaching that Jesus rose from the dead. It is through baptism
that we become united with Christ in His death and consequently also in his resurrection.
To reject baptism, is to personally
reject the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And to reject the resurrection of
Jesus Christ is to reject Him as the Son of God.
Therefore, if we deny baptism, we deny
Christ from raising us from death.
To be anti-baptism is to be
anti-resurrection.
To be anti-resurrection is to be
anti-Christ.
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This page last updated:
January 9, 2003