LIVING OUR CONFESSION

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:11

In baptism by immersion, a newborn Christian makes a confession that both he and Jesus are crucified, buried and resurrected. The person doing the baptizing says something like, “Buried with Christ in death and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life.” The act of baptism and the words spoken explain to the witnesses what spiritually happened to the one being baptized when he received Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Living out the guidance given in Romans 6:11-13, enables the new believer to provide a continual expression of his spiritual crucifixion, burial and resurrection. We live out the confession we made when we were baptized.

A seminary professor invited a friend to substitute for him during his absence. He asked the friend to teach his classes about their spiritual crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

When the professor later saw his friend, he told the friend that he had angered one of the ladies. The guest teacher was surprised. He wanted to know how he had made her angry.

The professor quoted the lady as saying she was upset because no one had ever told her about her spiritual crucifixion, burial and resurrection. This means that no one had ever explained to her the meaning of her water baptism or that she could live out her confession by responding to the guidance of Romans 6:11-13.

How many believers would have the same response to hearing years after their conversion and baptism what the guest professor taught this lady?