Tell God You Love Him by Telling Others You Belong to Him

[ZARA81]

Tell God You Love Him by Telling Others You Belong to Him

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By     :

Rick Warren

From:

PurposeDriven.com

Thursday, May 28, 2009 1:21 PM EDT

In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on this passage:

"When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace-a new life in a new land! That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means" (Romans 6:3 MSG).

Baptism makes three powerful, public statements, expressing how we belong to God:

The first reason you need to be baptized is to say, "I believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus." And you give a picture of that by going under the water and coming up. And when we come up out of the water, we enter into the new country of grace-a new life in a new land! (based on Romans 6:3 MSG).

Second, baptism is a picture of what happens to you: "Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as He did Christ" (Colossians 2:12 MSG). When you're baptized you're saying, "I'm dying to all my old sins. They're forgiven, they're forgotten, and they're out of my life.  I'm beginning a brand new life in Christ."

Third, it symbolizes your new life in Jesus Christ: "And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes" (Galatians 3:27 NLT).

[lynnsl]

Jun. 3, 2009 at 11:27 AM

Thank you!! I love Him! I am so glad that I belong to Him!