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The waters of baptism symbolize our new life in Christ. Baptism portrays or pictures what God has done in us through Christ. Open to Colossians 2:11. Actually, v. 8-12 are one long sentence with one primary clause[1] starting in v.8, and six secondary clauses, each with a verb extending all the way down to v.12.

Colossians 2:11-15  (NKJV)11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

As you saw each of those who were baptized coming up out of the water, they portray going into the water old, dead and lost, and coming up new, fresh and alive.

So baptism portrays salvation; and salvation gives us:

Newness of Life Into Which We Enter and Live

Baptism is the reminder we are in a whole new life now that we are saved. We used to be in a membership with some powerful bullies that were always threatening and holding us hostage.

No more. Christ defeated them and all we have to do is remind ourselves and them of this fact. We are sons of the owner, they have no power over us unless we give it to them!

We who have been baptized declare that through Christ, God has given us:

Life Transforming Truth # 1: Salvation Means A Heart That is New

Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, NKJV

Baptism Declares we have a Heart that is New: this speaks of spiritual heart circumcision (Ezekiel 36:26-27), or the work of salvation as Christ is putting off our old person

Life Transforming Truth # 2: Salvation Means A past That is Buried and Forever Gone

Colossians 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. NKJV

Baptism Declares we have a past that is buried: our burial with Christ

Life Transforming Truth # 3: Salvation Means A Fresh, New Beginning

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, NKJV

Baptism Declares: our new life in Christ

Life Transforming Truth # 4:Salvation Means an End to All Guilt, All My Sins are on Jesus

Colossians 2:14a having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV

Baptism Declares: the end of any condemnation against us.

Life Transforming Truth # 5: Salvation Means I Have Nothing to Fear

Colossians 2:14b having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV

Baptism Declares: I have nothing left to fear.

Life Transforming Truth # 6: Salvation Means I am Freed From Legalism & Externalism

Colossians 2:15-23 (NKJV)Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using-according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Baptism Declares: I am freed, and don’t have to conform to anyone’s rules but God’s.

Life Transforming Truth # 7: Salvation Means I can Say No to Sin & Mean It!

Colossians 3:1-10 (NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yo
urselves once walked when you lived in them.8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

Baptism Declares: I am freed, and don’t have to surrender to my old habits, fears, and sins that enslaved me for so long.

Life Transforming Truth # 1: Salvation means A Heart That is New

Life Transforming Truth # 2: Salvation means A past That is buried and forever gone

Life Transforming Truth # 3: Salvation means A Fresh, new beginning

Life Transforming Truth # 4:Salvation means An end to all guilt, all my sins are on Jesus

Life Transforming Truth # 5: Salvation means i have nothing to fear

Life Transforming Truth # 6: Salvation means i am freed from legalism & externalism

Life Transforming Truth # 7: Salvation means i can say no to sin & mean it!

Appendix Articles on Baptism

The Cleansing Blood of Jesus:

1 Peter 3:21 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,

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The enveloping spirit (I Cor 12:13) as we have participation in the atoning death and glorious resurrection of our Savior

1 Corinthians 12:13  For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Remember what New Testament Baptism is:

Christian Baptism is an ordinance immediately instituted by Christ himself, and designed to be observed in the Church until the end of the age. Baptism means identification. In New Testament baptism it involves identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. Being baptized in the name of Christ (Acts 2:38) stresses association with Christ. Although Romans 6:4-5 refers to Spirit baptism and not water baptism, the passage nonetheless illustrates the meaning of water baptism. It is a public declaration that the believer has been united to Christ by faith in His death and resurrection. Immersion is the most appropriate mode of baptism, not only because the Greek word behind it connotes immersion but even more importantly because that is the only mode that symbolizes burial and resurrection.

  • 1. Baptism always portrays my new relationship with God. Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)
  • 2. Baptism announces my pledge of allegiance to Christ, as I am baptized into the name of the Triune God, and fellowship with Him. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (KJV) Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (KJV)
  • 3. Baptism always parallels a confession of faith [Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12; 9:17-18; 10:45, 48: 16:30-33]
  • 4. Baptism was always part of the obedience of faith. Faith demands action, and an immediate action is baptism!
  • 5. Baptism was always PRESENTED as a command. An unbaptized Christian is alien to the NT. Baptism was not an option, it was obedience to a command.
  • 6. Baptism was always only for those who had already personally confessed Christ. Only believers were baptized. No infants or children that could not confess Him for themselves were baptized!
  • 7. Baptism was always to portray purification. [Acts 2.38; 22.16; Titus 3.5; Hebrews 10:22; I Peter 3.21; Revelation. 1.5]

[1] Secondary clauses are:v.8 we are not to get taken captive; v. 9 He dwells in us; v. 10 we are complete; v. 11 we have been circumcised; v. 12a we have been buried; v. 12b we have been raised.