The Gospel

According to Paul, the Gospel is that Jesus died, was buried, was raised, and then appeared to the Apostles. His Gospel included those four elements. He was very clear about these four elements and expressed his Gospel to churches as Christ's death, burial, resurrection, appearance.

Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the Gospel which I preached to you… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve… (1 Corinthians 15:1-5; NASB)

That’s all good and fine. We believe in the Gospel Paul preached and we trust in the witness of the men who saw Jesus resurrected from the Grave. We have no doubt that what they say is true: Christ died, was buried, and was resurrected.

But how can a person be sure that the death and resurrection of Jesus count for them in particular? In other words, how can someone be sure that Jesus paid for their specific sins? Jesus died for the sins of the World, but not everyone in the World has received that forgiveness.

What operates so that Jesus’ death and resurrection might effectively cancel someone’s sins and infuse them with new life? Baptism must operate. Or rather, the Church must operate by means of baptism. Only then will souls be saved from sin.

United With Christ

Baptism is the only activity God has availed us by which we become united with the Lord Jesus in his burial and resurrection. Baptism is where the old self, the “old you” is done away with. You are buried with Christ in baptism.

Furthermore, a “new you” will only be born in baptism if you get baptized with faith. But you must put your faith in something called the working of God—that is, you must trust in a particular power of God--but which power? The power he exerted when he resurrected Jesus from the Dead. That power is the power of the Holy Spirit which the Spirit uses to produce new life.

God vindicated Jesus when he resurrected Jesus. By resurrecting Jesus, he proved that Jesus was innocent. God verified that Christ never sinned! Because Jesus was resurrected by God, we know that Jesus' was condemned unjustly. By resurrecting him, God gave testimony of Christ’s innocence and he gave testimony to the truthfulness of Jesus’ claim of being the Christ! (Supposedly, every Christian knows these things and interprets the Resurrection of Christ in this light).

However, God did something more than vindicate Jesus through Christ's resurrection. God exerted life-giving power. That's the same power you need to receive if you will be transformed into a new person. The Scriptures call it the working of God. Do you understand it? Have you been enlightened so that you know what it is?

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know... his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the Dead... (Ephesians 1:18-20)

The Meaning of Baptism

Paul explained the meaning of baptism in a very beautiful verse, the central passage for today's lesson:

… having been buried with him [Jesus] in baptism, in which you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the Dead (Colossians 2:12; NASB).

A person’s faith in God’s resurrection power is the key to a successful baptism. If they have faith in God's power, they will get the Holy Spirit. Getting the Holy Spirit (baptism in the Holy Spirit) happens at a very specific moment, the moment a person rises from the waters of baptism. It’s at that instant, the instant a person enters the New Covenant by dying with Christ, that they are raised up with Jesus—and it is exclusively at that time God responds to our water baptism with Spirit baptism.

Let's read the central passage again, slowly:

… having been buried with him [Jesus] in baptism, in which you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the Dead (Colossians 2:12; NASB).

The verse says buried in baptism in which you were also raised with him. The in which you were also raised means that God has established this exchange: If we get baptized in water, God baptizes us in the Holy Spirit. If you are not baptized in water, don't expect the baptism of the Holy Spirit. First, wash yourself of your sins, then the Holy Spirit will come into your heart.

Only through baptism can a person experience genuine union with Christ and his resurrection—through a new birth in the Spirit. While a penitent believer rises from the waters of baptism, at that instant, if they are acting by faith, they officially become partakers in Christ’s Death and Resurrection. For that reason, and for that reason alone, God grants them the Holy Spirit.

Do you want the Holy Spirit? Do you want to be born again? The new birth is only for those who have been born of water first. You must be born of water and the Spirit. If you are not, you will not enter or see the Kingdom of God!

Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God...”

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God...

Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’ ... so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit" (John 3:3-8; NASB)

Through Faith

Now, when Paul writes that burial and resurrection in baptism is through faith, this does not mean that faith abrogates baptism’s place in salvation. It’s completely illogical to conclude that because we are raised up through faith, that baptism doesn’t save is.

The logical interpretation of the biblical teaching on baptism is that faith works through baptism. Indeed, the entire testimony of Scripture affirms that faith works—but when we affirm the value of faith, we do not deny the value of baptism. Faith and baptism are complementary and are of equal value regarding salvation!

When the Bible says that faith works, it does not mean that baptism does not work. On the contrary, faith is trusting in Jesus while baptism is the statement “I trust in Jesus alone for my salvation”!

The Church’s affirmation of faith cannot become the Church’s denial of baptism. The two are completely compatible. Notice how Paul uses the expression faith working below:

… in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love (Galatians 5:6; NASB).

We conclude that faith works through baptism unto salvation. The Scriptures demonstrate these two things:

1. baptism is the saving compliment to faith

2. faith is the saving precursor to baptism

Both faith and baptism have saving power. Therefore, if you have gone to the waters of baptism with faith, and were buried with Christ in baptism—you are saved from the power of sin! God will honor what you have done, your work of faith, and will grant you salvation.

Crucified with Christ

Earlier in the same epistle, Galatians, Paul made a famous statement about the faith a person needs to be justified. It’s not faith in the works of the Law, but faith in Christ. It’s not believing in the Old Covenant, but in the New.

… a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus… I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:16, 20; NASB).

In what way are we crucified with Christ? The verses that follow Colossians 2:12 make the matter clear: it’s not that our bodies are literally nailed to the Cross with Jesus. Rather, it’s that God took our certificate of debt, the list of sins that we had committed against him, and nailed it to the Cross.

Wow. Magnificent. But, when does this happen? It only occurs when we are baptized. The context of Colossians 2:12 makes that clear. Let's read the whole passage:

… buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the Dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the certificate of debt with its of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross (Colossians 2:12-14; NKJV).