BAPTISM AND HOPE

Our baptism gives us a new and glorious hope


The Lord’s church at Corinth was living and active even though they struggled with problems. They had been buried with Christ in baptism - purified, dedicated to God, put right with God.

"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Cor 1:4-9

The Church herself is a "Sacrament" - a grace-filled sign which makes Christ’s saving work present in history, through the power of the Holy Spirit. [Paul uses the word mystery to speak of the reality of the presence of the Kingdom itself, revealed in Christ Jesus, and perceived by faith. Jesus said: "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables." Mark 4:11]

1. New birth - born from above.

"Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:5-6

Baptism is our faith in action. Baptism gives us new birth in Christ, makes us sharers in the mystery of His death and resurrection, grants the forgiveness of sin and brings us new freedom as God’s children and members of His Church".

"But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7

2. New in Christ.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
2 Cor 5:17

"Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was. 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. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and He will never die again. Death no longer has any power over Him. When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus." Romans 6:5-11 (NLT)

Our baptism has changed us, given us a new and glorious hope, and empowered us to bring God’s redeeming love to all, particularly the poor, in whom we see the face of Christ. Our baptism has also given us a share in the Church’s mission of evangelization; as disciples, we are also missionaries.

3. Temples of the Holy Spirit.

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19-20

We have all become new creatures in Christ, temples of the Spirit, adopted children of the Father, members of the Church, brothers & sisters in faith and announcers of the Gospel, capable of forgiving and loving all, even our enemies. Let us ask Him to renew in us the grace of our Baptism and to make us, with all our brothers and sisters, true children of God and living members of His body, the Church.

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:1-3

"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:11-13