Baptism Changes You

Baptism was a commanded by Christ and has been a staple in the life of every Christian from the beginning. Many Christians think baptism is an outward expression of love and faith in God. Many Christians think baptism is nothing more than a physical requirement to avoid hell. Many forget that baptism isn’t just a requirement. It changes you.

Brethren, all who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death.  We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.  We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.  For he who has died is freed from sin.  But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.  For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.  The death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6.3-11

For Saint Paul, baptism is more than just an outward expression. It is a change. It is death and burial so that could be raised with Christ. To make baptism a mere requirement is sending it back to the Old Testament list of rules. Life wasn’t about ‘keeping the rules’ then and it isn’t about ‘keeping the rules’ now.

Baptism is about becoming a new human being. It is about being mystically united to God both spiritually and physically. This is why the Orthodox Church refers to baptism as a mystery. We don’t know how God does it, but we know He does it.

Here is the important take away from our baptism story. Since we have been “freed from sin,” in our baptism, there should be no reason to return to sin. The problem is, we do return to sin. We do return and voluntarily enslave ourselves again. As strong as God’s grace is, temptation seems stronger.

If we lived as if we were living a new life, then we would put up a stronger fight against temptation. If we stopped thinking of baptism as a mere ritual, and remember it permanently changes us, we would be more successful in our battle against sin.

God is on our side. Remember, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5.8) He didn’t wait for us to be perfect. He is One Who perfects us in baptism and a life of communion with Him. The grace of God has been given to us through His Holy Spirit and His Church, to assist us in the fight.

Our slogan at Be Transfigured Ministries is “Live A New Life In Christ” specially because we are invited by God to leave the old life behind in baptism. Don’t worry if you have sinned after baptism. God gave us a way out of that too. Through the Mystery of Holy Confession, sin is forgiven by the power of God’s promise to the Church.

Baptism frees us from sin and Confession forgives us when we return to sin. Holy Communion nourishes us and keeps us united to Christ. If we think of baptism and the life of the Church as mere ‘rules to follow’ we lose the benefit altogether. It is time to Live A New Life In Christ, and leave the old one behind.