In Ephesians 4:3, Paul urges us to “make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Then in verses 4-6, he lists seven things we as believers share in common that we should focus on - a common community - “one body”; a common communion - “one Spirit”; a common confidence - “one hope”; a common commitment - “one Lord”; a common confession - “one faith”; a common conversion - “one baptism”; and a common connection - “one Father.” Today, we want to think together about chord number six - our common conversion, which his testified to through our baptism.
By and large, the New Testament writers spoke of baptism in two ways.
A. Water baptism. In the New Testament, water baptism was the means whereby believers made their conversion publicly known (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 19:5; 1 Corinthians 1:13-16). We’ve lost this understanding today, with the use of the “come forward” invitation to encourage people to publicly declare faith in Christ. Biblically, one’s public profession was their water baptism; and it was an outward expression of an inward reality. That inward reality had to do with the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives when we trust Christ - the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
B. Spirit baptism. Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, one is identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Spirit
baptism is the fundamental work of the Spirit of God in one’s salvation.
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” - 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV)
“For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ.” - Galatians 3:27 (Amplified)
“And we who have been baptized into union with Christ are enveloped by him.” - Galatians 3:27 (LB)
When we place our faith in Christ, we are identified with Christ in His death and resurrection, so that what is true of Jesus is true of us. Through this identification with Christ we have victory over sin because what is true of Christ is now true of me.
If I were to take my sermon notes and place them within my Bible, then whatever is true of my Bible is true of my sermon notes. If I place my Bible in my hand, then my sermon notes are also in my hand. If I lay my Bible on the pulpit, then my sermon notes are also on the pulpit. This is also the nature of my identification with Christ. As one who have trusted in Him as my Savior and Lord, whatever is true of Christ is now true of me.
By coming to earth, Jesus identified with me and my sin; by my coming to Jesus, I am identified with Him and His victory.
Now, when New Testament writers use the word, “baptism,” they sometimes refer only to water baptism; and sometimes refer only to Spirit baptism. Then on other occasions, they possibly refer to both. When Paul refers to baptism here, I believe he is referring to both, with his primary emphasis being on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit is something that has occurred in the life of every child of God, which is testified to when we are baptized in water.
1. We testify that our old life is dead – vs. 1-3
Paul anticipates a question, which is, “If I am saved by grace, then doesn’t that mean that I can now sin all I want? I mean, if God’s grace is sufficient, then I’m free to sin as much as possible, because there will always be enough grace, right?”
This, of course, reveals a misunderstanding of grace. The grace of God not only provides forgiveness of sin, but power over sin. Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. And part of what grace has provided for us is identification with our Savior’s death on the cross.
Grace doesn’t provide us with license to sin; but with liberation from sin. Salvation doesn’t just mean we can be declared righteous before God; but we can live righteously for God. Because I have died with Christ (v. 3) and I am dead to sin (v. 2).
Before Christ was in my life, self was very much in control of everything, which is why sin was in control, for sin is simply going my own way instead of going God’s way. Before Christ, self was unchallenged. But through our identification with Christ, that old way of living - living for self, under the control of sin has been put is dead.
A dead man makes no decisions. A dead man doesn’t act or react, he’s dead. Through our identification with Christ, our old life is dead. We are dead to sin because we died with Christ.
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.”
- Romans 6:6 (NLT)
When Christ came into my life, the only way I knew to live, for self, was put to death. Through baptism, we testify that this. But also . . .
2. We testify that we have new life in Christ - v. 4
Thankfully, when we are baptized, we do not remain under the water (though many jokes have been made about the need to keep some folks under as long as possible). No, I am brought up out of that place of death, even as Christ was raised from the dead.
Christ died to sin and then was raised to life to the glory of God. Through our identification with Christ, not only have we died to sin, but we’ve been raised to live life to the glory of God.
“The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 6:10-11 (NIV)
Paul says we can now live life as Jesus did, we do not need to live with self in control and thus be enslaved to sin, but we can live with Christ in control and be free to please God. But through baptism, also . . .
3. We testify that we being made new in Christ – v. 5
When we are baptized, we are also testifying to our expectation to be resurrected as Jesus was upon His return. That there is more to
come.
Our identification with His death and resurrection is the basis of our eternal victory. But what Paul mentions here is that the victory we have because of this will not be fully realized in our experience until we are united with Christ in His resurrection. In other words, our victory over sin will not be permanent in our experience until eternity is ushered in.
“The Christian life is an already and a not-yet experience of this sinless position and identity in union with Christ. What happened to Christ Jesus historically and finally and unchangeably – and to us in him – is applied to us not all at once in its fullness, but some now completely, and some now progressively, and all fully in the age to come. We are already fully forgiven and acquitted and declared
righteous and justified in our union with Christ by faith alone. And we are already delivered from the slavery to sin, that is, from the power of sin as the defining direction of our lives. But we are not yet perfected in our daily, earthly experience. We must fight the fight of faith and become in experience, by faith, what we are perfectly in our union with Christ. Paul put it like this in Philippians 3:12, ‘Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.’ You see the already and not yet. Christ has laid hold of Paul for perfection and everlasting blessing. That secures Paul. Now Paul confirms that great work of God in Christ by laying hold of that for which he was laid hold of by Christ.” - John Piper
Conclusion: Through our identification with Christ, we have victory over sin’s power, because self is dead and we are alive in Christ. But we will not fully experience this victory until eternity is ushered in.
Until then, we are to learn how to walk in the reality of the victory that is ours each day, until it is our eternal reality. How?
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” - Romans 6:11-12 (NIV)
The only way sin can be free to reign in our lives is if it can convince us that there is still life in the old self. Anytime, we get to thinking that there is any life left in self, we allow sin to reign. And until eternity is ushered in, sin will always be around seeking to reign in my life through telling me that self can still do the job. But I can resist and overcome sin by daily choosing to see self as being crucified and dead. The self-directed life is a dead-ended life. I must daily seek to live for Jesus, for life lived for Him is the only life worth living.
This struggle we have with sin is something we all experience; but the victory we have in Christ is something we all possess. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we find unity as we realize we all struggle with sin; but that we all share forgiveness and victory in Christ; and one day, we will all share eternally in the victory we have in Christ over sin.
“And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” - Hebrews 10:24-25 (HCSB)
