Baptized Into Christ's Death
We are baptized into Christ's death and resurrection, resulting in a new life, and we should resist sin and walk in newness of life.
Erlo Stegen emphasizes the profound significance of being baptized into Christ's death, illustrating that this baptism transcends mere water baptism and symbolizes our union with Christ in His suffering and resurrection. He draws parallels between the experiences of the disciples and the transformative power of recognizing our identity in Christ, urging believers to see the spiritual reality of being immersed in Him. Stegen warns against allowing sin to reign in our lives, reminding us that our actions should reflect our new life in Christ, as we are called to live righteously and not fulfill the desires of the flesh. He highlights the importance of understanding the grace of salvation and the consequences of rejecting it, encouraging a life that honors the sacrifice of Jesus. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deep reflection on our relationship with Christ and the implications of our baptism into His death.
Text
Rom 6:3-13
Here it speaks about being baptised into Christ Jesus, baptised into His death and being raised with Him so that we can walk in newness of life. There are different baptisms and this baptism is not the baptism of John with water which was the baptism of the confession of sin. The disciples asked to sit on His right and left side, and Jesus asked if they would be able to partake of the baptism He was about to undergo. They said yes but that baptism wasn't the baptism in water. It was His suffering and death on the cross.
There are many things that we do not see when we look at the cross. Elisha's servant, when the enemy army surrounded them, was very afraid. Then Elisha prayed that his eyes should be opened and the servant saw the vast army of God and chariots of fire. If you could really see regarding the cross and the baptism of the Lord Jesus, it would be precious to you. If we are immersed in Christ, then what happens to Him, happens to us. Then we are with Him in His death and also with Him in His resurrection. He took all the Christians to Himself when He died and when He arose, we all rose with Him. Peter was crucified upside down because he didn't feel worthy to die as his Lord did and it is said that he encouraged his wife during this terrible death and others say he preached to the crowd and some were converted at that time. Andrew hung for two days on the cross before he died. The Lord Jesus died within six hours of a broken heart because of all our guilt and sin.
We are baptised into Christ and are united with Him. Water baptism is an outward sign of what is within. It doesn't save us for we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus. Neither are we saved by the good deeds that we do. If we reject such a great salvation, we deserve hell.
What kind of life should we live? In Romans 6 v 12, it says don't allow sin to reign in your body. We hurt the Lord Jesus if we continue to sin. Our bodies must not be a part of unrighteousness. Don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16,17); but rather see Jesus and yourself hanging with Him, giving no room to sin.
Sermon Outline
- Being Baptized into Christ's Death
- The Union with Christ
- Living a New Life
- Resisting Sin
- Walking in Newness of Life
Key Quotes
“If you could really see regarding the cross and the baptism of the Lord Jesus, it would be precious to you.” — Erlo Stegen
“If we are immersed in Christ, then what happens to Him, happens to us.” — Erlo Stegen
“Don't allow sin to reign in your body.” — Erlo Stegen
Application Points
- We should resist sin and walk in newness of life, giving no room to unrighteousness.
- We are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, and this should motivate us to live a new life.
- Water baptism is an outward sign of what is within, and it's not necessary for salvation, but it's an important step in our journey with Christ.