The Christian life is the baptized life, united with Christ. Truly, the power of Christian baptism is our link with Jesus Christ, our identification with his Story, our sharing with his life, death, burial, and resurrection, and one day soon, his glory. To be a Christian means, for the rest of our lives, a union and oneness with Christ, a participation in his life. Now, his life is our life, and his purpose, our purpose.

In baptism, after we have gone down into the water, we are lifted out again. On the third day our Lord Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death, and bringing a new creation and eternal life. When we are lifted out of the water, we too are being created anew with eternal life. We have been raised with Christ as part of the new creation.

Victorious Lord and Savior Jesus, we rejoice in the eternal life that you won for us. Lead us into the new creation where we will live with you, the Father, and the Holy Spirit forever.

Baptism is more than a backwards-looking event rooted in the ancient past; it publicly changes our identity in the present and commissions us for future mission and ministry as members of Christ’s royal priesthood.

~ Uche Anizor and Hank Voss, Representing Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016. p. 124.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
Live a Baptized Life, Romans 6.1-5

Book Reading
Breslin, Embracing Our Priestly Nature at Work