To Live You Must Die!

Righteous Sinners : righteous in spirit but slaves to sin in the flesh.

“Paul said, “John baptised a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” And having heard, they were baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. And of Paul having laid the hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were speaking in tongues and prophesying.” Acts 19:4-6

When we are born again we are born of the word and the Spirit. “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless anyone be born of water and of the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5 Here water is used as a symbol of the word. Water because the cleansing effect the word has on our souls. Jesus said to His disciples, “Already you are clean by reason of the word that I have spoken to you.” John 15:3 And Paul in Ephesians says, “That He [Christ] might sanctify and cleanse her [church] with washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:26

And Peter says, “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever… and this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1:23,25 “That is we are born of the word the Seed and of the Spirit. As it takes two to make a flesh, it also takes two to make a spirit.” [F.P] The posts in this site has in the past attributed the water in John 3:5 to mean baptism, but the present teaching of the word holds true ground. And baptism to be equivalent to circumcision, which follows the birth in the Spirit.

There is no new birth apart from the word [the gospel] and the entrance of Christ in us [by the Holy Spirit]. Re-born, as in two forms of birth, the first birth in the flesh and the second birth in the Spirit. The kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light are not some far away lands separated by great sea, but are present in us in our very flesh and spirit. [Our Soul] which was born in bondage to the flesh, is now liberated to the freedom of Christ into the Spirit. “Now you are not in flesh but in Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you;” Romans 8:9

“[God the Father] Who has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14 And if the kingdom of God is in the midst of us, then the transfer is from flesh to Spirit, having purified our souls through the word.

When we are born of the Spirit, our spirit in us is awoken to righteousness to life through unity with the Spirit of Christ, but our body remains dead. “If Christ is in you, [the body is indeed dead on account of sin], but the Spirit is life on account of righteousness.” Romans 8:10 And through baptism we are born from the dead, that is our flesh is put to death, by which the spirit that worked in our flesh is put out, and the sinful-flesh is raised a mortal body [APART] from sin. “We were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised up out from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life…. that our old man was crucified with Him, so that the body of sin might be annulled, that we are no longer enslaved to sin.” Romans 6:4,6

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being.” 2 Corinthians  5:17

Deliverance from the Law.

If we truly understand we are delivered from the law and walk in the liberty of Christ and claim all things are made lawful yet sin remains in our flesh, then we have missed the mark. Sin and law are not apart from one another, one must exist for the other. For one to be delivered form the law they first must be delivered from sin. “We have been released from the Law, having died to that which we were bound.” Romans 7:6

This death to sin is better expressed through the law, because the law was purposely given to expose sin. That is we know of the nature of sin in our flesh because of the law. [Romans 7:7] And Paul expresses how death is necessary in order for one to come out from one covenant and to enter into another and says, “You also have been put to death to the Law through the body of Christ, for you to belong to another, to the One having been raised out from the dead.” Romans 7:4 The marriage in the law is brought to an end through death, in order to enter into marriage with Christ in His resurrection. To the One who is raised from the dead, who has brought an end to sin and by extension the Law, which is expressed through baptism.

We sin because sin is in our flesh, it is the legacy of Adam, by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.[Romans 5:19] Though righteousness is imputed to a sinner, but that does not deliver us from [the presence of] sin in our flesh. Paul in his explanation, of the enmity between the law and the flesh writes, “O wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of this body of death? Thanks be then to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:24-25 That is he sought deliverance from his own body in recognising the nature that was present in it. And it is through death, Jesus Christ saves us from the nature of sin which is in our flesh. 

The law is NOT put to death but the one who is under the covenant of the law is. “For through the Law I died to the Law that I might live to God.” Galatians 2:19 Christ was born under the law, died to sin and was raised to life in righteousness. And those who were born under the law must also annual their covenant to the law [which was in their flesh] through the baptism of death, to enter into the new covenant with Christ. By which they die to the nature of sin that was in their flesh, which in turns makes the law without effect. “Knowing this, that law is not enacted for a righteous one, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinful,” 1 Timothy 1:9

In the same respect Paul in Galatians shows the danger of accepting circumcision and writes, “Behold, I Paul say to you that if you shall become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. Now again I testify to every man receiving circumcision that he is a debtor to keep the whole Law.” Galatians 5:2-3 Paul saw circumcision to be the very gateway to the covenant of the law of works, as to invalidate their stand in the grace of Christ, obligating themselves to keep all the law. Baptism is also mark of the covenant of faith, through which the body of sin [sinful flesh] is done away with through [FAITH] and not of works.

By taking of the flesh [of the foreskin] by our own hands, we are saying we will obey the law ourselves as to justify ourselves through the works in the flesh. BUT if we accept baptism, without any effort in our part, the sinful flesh is put to death in us and we are raised free from the presence of sin in our body BY GOD. “In whom also you were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in the removal of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised with Him through [the faith of the working of God].” Colossians 2:11-12 

Faith is doing something that we have no power to do ourselves. If we could do it ourselves we would not need faith. And we by our own effort, can never put out sin from our flesh. We can not tame it, nor can we bind it with laws of the church. But we can die to it in faith through baptism with Christ, that what we are not able to do Christ will do for us. We step into the water [making the death of Christ our own] and be raised out of the water [making His resurrected life to be our own.] Paul says, “So also you, consider yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but living to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 Baptism is a mark of faith and not works. It is the killing of sinful flesh with a, “circumcision made without hands.” It is not the cleaning of the body or the shaving of hair as mark of purification, and is spiritual and if spiritual it can only be of faith not of works.

The point is, it is not the abolishment of the law, that sets us free from sin [BUT] the removal of sin that set us free form the law. Therefore all alike are required to die. Otherwise the Gentiles who were without law, would have already been justified. The law is good and holy, but the law was contrary to our nature because we were of sinful flesh and not spiritual. [Romans 7:12, 14] And since the law was given to expose [the presence of] sin in the flesh, only the death of sin in the flesh sees the annulment of the Law.

Firstborn from the Dead.

Jesus Christ is called the Firstborn [born of God] into the world and He is also called the Firstborn from the dead. One expresses His birth by the Holy Spirit and the other His resurrection form the dead by the Holy Spirit.

“He also likewise took part in the same things, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death, that is, the devil, and might set free those who all their time to live were subject to slavery through fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15

The devil through sin, had the power of death. [1 Corinthians 15:56] Not because sin was imputed but because of his nature in our flesh, which compelled us to acts of sin. “For until the Law, sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed, there being no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those not having sinned in the likeness of the transgression of Adam.” Romans 5:13-14 Where there is no law God does not impute sin, and Christ paid the price for imputed sin. “God sent forth His Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under the Law,that He might redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive the divine adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 [And] “He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those having been called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15

Jesus in His life time restricted His disciples not to go anywhere else except to the children of Israel. Where the covenant of the law was in full effect and sin was imputed. Jesus was not born under sin, but was born under the dictates of the law on the account of sin. He overcame sin by resisting, to the point of death in the fulfilment of the law. And was raised from the dead, in righteousness of the law [having], “putting away of sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:26 Because He has dealt with the nature of sin in the flesh, He was then able to send His disciples out to the whole world. “For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks all to be under sin.” Romans 3:9 Therefore, Jesus in the law served those under the law and Jesus in dealing with nature of sin made the way open for all. “For I declare Christ to have become a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, in order to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for mercy.” Romans 15:8-9

He is the Firstborn from the dead, in that He was raised free from the rule of sin and death. “Christ, having been raised up out from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer rules over Him. For that which He died, He died to sin once for all; but that which He lives, He lives to God.” Romans 6:9-10 If Christ is the Firstborn from the dead, then He must also have siblings like Him, that are [being] raised from the dead. And that is what is achieved through baptism [in Faith]. Christ was raised in the very same body He died in, His resurrection does not only speak of the promise of eternal life but for us who live it is a demonstration we also are able to walk free from sin and sickness in our mortal body.

Fulfil All Righteousness.

“But John was hindering Him, saying, “I have need to be baptised by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering, said unto him, “Permit it presently;for thus it is fitting to us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he permits Him.” Matthew 3:14-15

Baptism is the fulfilment of righteousness. It is not only the  redemption of sins committed in the past [the forgiveness of] but to walk in this life in righteousness free from sin. This act of fulfilment is also expressed in Abraham, the father of all those who believe. Paul writes “he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while in the uncircumcision.” Romans 4:11 That is God commanded Abraham to circumcise himself and his family as mark of the covenant between him and God, after He declared him righteous.

We also like Abraham our father, received righteousness by faith, while we were dead in trespasses apart from any work we have done. “To the one not working, but believing on the One justifying the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.” Romans 4:5 What Abraham has done physically was a symbol of what is to come, the removal of  [sin] that was at work in the flesh through baptism. [Colossians 2:11-12]

Peter also shows the two fold aspect of our walk with God and attributes the payment of our sins upon Christ on the cross and our death to the nature of sin, for a life of righteousness. “Who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, we having been dead to sins, we might live to righteousness.” 1 Peter 2:24 The point is we cannot live for righteousness while we are still in the flesh, in sin and under the law.

Therefore if we do not accept baptism for ourselves, sin has not been put to death in us. And if you do not escape the land of sin you are a resident of the world and subject to the same rules as ever and are in danger of being made a slave. The picture we can use to illustrate this is, the children of Israel were declared free while in the land of Egypt, when they came out in procession. But that did not stop the slave master, from later seeking to bring them back under bondage. Only through the Red sea did God ensure the oppressor saw them no more. [Exodus 14:13] And through out the history of the bible, we can see the deliverance God has brought has involved [a type] of baptism.

• Noah: [The Judgment of the World] 8 Souls were saved in an Ark through Water, the sins of the world were washed away in a flood and all flesh died. 1 Peter 3:20-21
• Mosses: [The deliverance of God expressed in nations.] All Israel went through the Red sea and the slave master and his army were drowned. [1 Corinthians 10:1-2]
• Christ: [The deliverance of God, from our own body: made into new creation.]  We are set free from the bondage of sin which was in our own body. [Hebrews 2:14-15] [2 Corinthians 5:16-17]

A Good Conscience Toward God.

“[He might bring you to God], having been put to death indeed in the flesh, but having been made alive in the spirit,….When the long-suffering of God was waiting in the days of Noah, of the ark being prepared, in which a few—that is, eight souls—were saved through water, which also prefigures the baptism now saving you, not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the demand of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 3:18, 20-21

Peter here expresses baptism as an act we do for what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. It is a response to God because our conscience has been made right with Him. That is the blood of Christ has purified our souls from past transgression, we are justified and the guilt of our sin is taken away. We in return chose to die in a wilful act to remove the nature of sin which is present in our flesh.

“We should draw near with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith, our hearts having been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our body having been washed with pure water. ” Hebrews 10:22

Adam through wilful physical act of disobedience allowed the the spirit of the devil [sin] access to his flesh. [Now] we also through [wilful physical act of obedience to Christ in faith] also causes death to our flesh, to cut out the influence of the spirit of the wicked one [sin] from our bodies. “As many as have been baptised into Christ Jesus have been baptised into His death?” Romans 6:3 It is “As many as have been baptised,” are the ones who have died with Him. And those who have died with Him are the ones that are set free from sin in the flesh. “For the one having died has been freed from sin.” Romans 6:7

Paul in Philippians associates his own resurrection to being conformed with Him in death. “To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from out of dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

[Therefore] Jesus Christ is the Firstborn from the dead, and if we are to follow in His step we ought to die ourselves. That is righteousness is not complete in us, if our spirit is life yet our body remains dead in sin.

There is a righteousness of faith onto salvation. [Romans 10:10] And there are fruits of righteousness which are the good works offered to God in faith. “Being filled with the fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:11 And there is a righteousness of life, that is a life lived in victory over sin. “Neither yield your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but yield yourselves to God, as living out from the dead, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness.” Romans 6:13

We are in a sorry state as long as we permit the nature of the evil one to be present in our body. Christ has given explicit instruction to put our flesh to death and the means to do it. “Having gone into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation. The one having believed and having been baptised will be saved, but the one having disbelieved will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16 [Believed]: the righteousness of faith [AND] [Baptised]: has put sin to death in the flesh which is the fulfilment of righteousness.

The sinner crucified with Christ, did not need to live for righteousness, he only needed to receive forgiveness for his sins and die. But we who are alive, are required to live for righteousness, having died to sin. Then whether it is from the law or from sin, death is the only way to annul that covenant, and to enter into the new. [Col 3:1-3] We do not confess it into being but must act it out in faith. Therefore anyone coming to Christ having received forgiveness for trespasses committed in the past, and does not see fit to continue to put to death sin in the flesh is in an ambiguous state, in which the spirit is life but the body is still dead in sin.

In Acts 19:1-7 Paul baptised those who had already been baptised in the baptism of John for remission of sin. Why did he baptise them again in water, if it were a mere ritual? But because they did not know the gospel of Christ, he preached Christ to them, when they believed in Jesus Christ as to be born of the Spirit, they were baptised in His name and were filled in the Holy Spirit. The baptism they had received prior was no benefit to them because they did not know the gospel. So is everyone who is baptised without giving consent of faith in Christ for themselves, it means nothing. Baptism is of faith. It is an act of obedience to Christ, and no one can be obedient for another, we have to do that ourselves. And No one can die to the flesh unless they are first born of the Spirit, in accepting Christ to be Saviour.

To this we need to address the issue of infant baptism. “Permit the little children, and do not forbid them to come to Me.” Matthew 19:14 has been a means used to justify infant baptism. But what brings the children to Jesus is not the sprinkling of water on a child who has not got no concept of what is happening. But the diligence of the parents to raise the child in the knowledge of Him. It is this failure, that hinders the children from coming to Christ. The danger of such seemingly pious religious practice has devalued the importance of this solemn event in a believers life and has relegated it to a mere cultural practice. And has cheated countless people, of the opportunity to evaluate their faith in Christ and make a decision for Him, and from the victorious life, having put sin to death in the flesh.

The Power to Live Right.

“But if Christ is in you, the body is indeed dead on account of sin, but the Spirit is life on account of righteousness. And if the Spirit of the One having raised up Jesus out from the dead dwells in you, the One having raised up Christ Jesus out from the dead also will give life to your mortal bodies, on account of His Spirit dwelling in you.” Romans 8:10-11

Paul makes distinction between the Spirit of Christ, whom we receive in righteousness of faith and the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Christ did not raise Himself from dead but was raised to life by [God] through the Holy Spirit. [Acts 2:32, Romans 6:4, Ephesians 1:20] And Paul asks the question, “But if [the Spirit of God] that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you?” In doing so Paul gives two distinct functionalities, to the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit. He has already stated that the presence of the Spirit of Christ gives life to our spirit in righteousness, though the body is dead because of sin. [Now] he adds, [God] will also give life to your mortal bodies through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, giving a new dimension, to the function of the Holy Spirit.

Paul does [NOT] say, “He who raised Christ will also give life to [your body of sin or your dead body] on the account of Him dwelling in you.” But of Christ he says, He made you alive while you were dead in trespasses. There is distinction between a dead body and a mortal body, one has sin dwelling the other is free from sin.

Therefore through baptism in water, our body of sin is raised a mortal body free from sin. And through the baptism of the Holy Spirit we receive the indwelling of the Spirit of God. “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have from God.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 Through the Spirit of Christ, our spirit receives life to direct our desires onto righteousness. By the very same measure our body which once enticed us to harmful and sinful practices due to the presence of sins, is also now given desires for holiness and honour by the Holy Spirit indwelling in us.

The Lord speaking of the baptism of the Holy Spirit said to His disciples, “But you will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you.” Acts 1:8 This power is not only for the purpose of ministry but also has benefits to the individual believer by which we gain strength to live right for God. Paul writing to Corinthians explains how one of the primary signs of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, serves to build up the believer. “The one speaking in a tongue edifies himself, but the one prophesying edifies the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:4

This is the reality of the truth of our purchased possession, a life free from sin and sickness. Therefore we ought to be able to declare with confidence there is no sin in our body which was buried with Christ in baptism and was raised to life by the Holy Spirit.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved, entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One calling you is faithful, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Paul in his letter to the Corinthians asks them a very important question. “Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or do you not recognise yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?” 2 Corinthians 13:5 There are many classification of Christians in the world but according to the  new testament there are only two types of Christians. A born again Christian [without which no one can enter the kingdom of God: John 3:3] and those who further receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There are no other types.

[Therefore] Do you know that you are born again, do you know Jesus Christ lives in you? It is not your nation nor your culture nor your parents that can determine this for you, only you can. Have [You] believed in Him and have [You] decided to follow Him to make Him Lord of [Your] life? “For in the heart is belief unto righteousness, and in the mouth is confession unto salvation.” Romans 10:10 Will [You] confess Him in the presence of many witness? [1 Timothy 6:12] And Have [You] chosen to die with Him in baptism, to live behind the person [You] were, so you may be raised with Him to a new life? [Colossians 2:12]

Christianity is a matter of the heart, “God speaks the language of the heart.” [D.K] And these are not mere rituals but are means to help you identify and solidify your Faith in the only Son of God, Jesus Christ. Christianity does not end at the door, but is a continual walk of faith that brings transformation in the believers life.

Therefore, Do not relegate what is ordained by Christ to be a ritual without purpose. In the Law, circumcision followed almost immediately after birth in the flesh. So now baptism has to follow right after the new birth in the Spirit; which is the belief and confession of our faith. Being born again of the Spirit and sealed by baptism in water.

Baptism is an Act of Obedience.

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