THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
A party of clergymen was attending a conference in Scotland.
Several of them set off to explore the district.
Presently they came to a river spanned by a temporary bridge.
Not seeing the notice that said it was unsafe, they began to cross.
The bridge keeper ran after them protesting.
"It's all right," declared the spokesman, not understanding the reason for the bridge keeper's haste.
"We're Presbyterians from the conference."
The bridge keeper replied, "I'm no caring aboot that, But if ye dinna get off the bridge, ye'll all be BAPTISTS!"
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________SCRIPTURE__________________________________
Romans 6:3-6
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT____________________________________
Baptism is an exterior symbol of something that has happened on the interior of the person.
What HAS happened?
Picture baptism as saying, we have died to self, been baptized with Christ, and risen by His power to walk in a new way of life.
What IS happening?
We are brought from death to life because we are resuscitated by God's Holy Spirit.
When we were "dead in trespasses and sin" we could not have a right relationship with Christ.
But now that we are "born again," we can have a right relationship with Christ.
What WILL happen?
This new life gives us eternal hope.
Because we have surrendered to Christ, and been baptized into his death, we are assured of a resurrection to live eternally with Him.
What RESULTS?
This new life is marked by a resolve to not have revival of sin.
Instead of having the main purpose of serving self, we now have a main purpose of serving Christ.
Love ya!
Bruce