United with Christ

Recap: The Sacrifice for Sins

• Jesus died as a sacrifice of atonement for our sins.
• The blessings Jesus offers are available to everyone who chooses to receive those gifts the way God instructs us — by becoming disciples of Jesus.

Today: United with Christ

The Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus, but it’s not just someone else’s story. It’s a story God is inviting us to join. It’s the story of our salvation. 

• You can know the story without actually joining it, but you won’t receive the blessings God is offering if you keep it separate from your life. 

The Bible contains many examples of people who came to believe the truth about Jesus and made the decision to join their lives to the ultimate story of the Bible. 

Example: Paul. Paul’s life was radically transformed when he placed his faith in Jesus and was baptized into Christ. It was a life-changing experience for him (Acts 9:1-22).

Key Point: God has chosen baptism to be the defining moment when our lives are united with Christ — when our stories are joined with the ultimate story of redemption that we read about in the Bible. 

Today’s Main Idea

In baptism, we die to our old way of life and are born again as new creations, united with Christ and washed by his blood. 

Main Passage: Romans 6:1-14.

Old Testament Imagery

Many important Old Testament stories have something to do with water, and those stories tend to be about hope, new life, and second chances.

• Examples: Creation, Noah, Red Sea, Water from the Rock, Crossing the Jordan, Namaan, Jonah, Priests Being Ordained, etc.

Themes from these water stories:

• A Fresh Start
• A New Creation
• Cleansed from Sin
• Set Free From Slavery
• Victory over the Enemy
• Pursuing God’s Will in Community

Let’s carry these ideas with us as we explore what Paul says about baptism.

Baptized into Christ — Romans 6

Scripture: Romans 6:1-4

• When we are baptized, we undergo the same kind of thing Jesus went through on the cross (death, burial, resurrection).
• Must be born again — John 3:3.

Baptism and Jesus:

• Just as Jesus died on the cross, we die to our old way of life. 
• Just as Jesus was buried in the tomb, we are buried in the waters of baptism (completely — immersion).
• Just as Jesus was raised to new life, we are reborn as new Christians.

Scripture: Romans 6:5-10

• Our old self is crucified (gone for good).
• We are united with Christ in his death and his resurrection. 
• We are set free from sin.

Key Point: Our new life is supposed to be different than our old one.

Scripture: Romans 6:11-14

• Paul began with a moral question — should we sin more so that God’s grace can increase? 
• He brings up baptism because our experience in baptism ought to impact the way we live. 
• It is not just a one-time event, but something that continues to shape how we ought to live.

The Blessings of Baptism

• Forgiveness (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16)
• The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)
• A New Life (Romans 6:4)
• Unity with Jesus (Romans 6:5)
• Fellowship with the Body (1 Cor. 12:13)
• Clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27)

Baptism gives us the defining narrative that shapes our lives as disciples. 

• It helps us understand who we are, why we’re here, and the community we belong to.

Resurrecting Old Habits

One problem is that some Christians resurrect old habits even after being born again.

• Like the Israelites, who wanted to return to Egypt during their journey to freedom (Numbers 13:3-4).

God wants us to put on the new self, not resurrect the old one (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Application

• If you haven’t already, choose to join your story to the ultimate story of the Bible by putting on Christ in baptism.
• If you have, then make a commitment to let your experience in baptism shape your thoughts, attitudes, and actions as a disciple of Jesus.
• If you’ve made a commitment to follow Jesus on the journey to freedom, don’t try to go back to Egypt by resurrecting your old habits or the ways of the world.

Study and Reflection

Read: Acts 9:1-22. This is the story of how Saul came to faith in Jesus Christ.

1. Saul was very familiar with the Christian story, but he didn’t embrace it at first. In fact, he stridently opposed it. What was the key thing that changed his perspective?
2. Do you think Saul’s blindness was symbolic of anything? What do you think it might have symbolized?
3. Baptism is something that cleanses us from the guilt of our past while preparing us for God’s plan for the future. How do we see that play out in Saul’s life?
4. What kind of “conversion” did Ananias experience in this passage? What kind of example or lesson does he give us?
5. Acts 9:20 says that Saul/Paul started preaching the truth about Jesus right away. Why do you think he was in such a rush to share the good news about Jesus?
6. What are the key differences between a person who knows a lot about the story of the Bible and someone who is living it out?
7. Based on this passage and/or other things you know about Paul, how was his experience in baptism a turning point for him? What changes took place in his life after that?
8. Do you agree with Bryan’s point that baptism gives us a defining narrative that shapes our lives — death, burial, and resurrection? How does it do that for us?
9. What is one action you can take this week to put these thoughts into practice?