The Baptism that Separates Us

 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law” (Luke 12:49-53).

Wait a minute! I thought Christ came… “to give peace on earth”. Didn’t the angels proclaimed this truth at His birth… “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). If we search for truth here, the Spirit shows us that Jesus does indeed bring peace to some. His peace is for “those with whom He is pleased”. The Holy Spirit confirmed this truth through the pen of the Apostle Paul… “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:19-20). He also affirms what Jesus taught here in today’s text. His peace is made available to Christ’s disciples through His baptism in blood on the cross. What’s more, true disciples are divided from the rest of this world by being baptized with Christ in the baptism that separates us.

Our baptism associates us with Christ. At the beginning of His ministry Jesus was baptized. It was not for purification. It was to fulfill righteousness on our behalf… “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’  But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented” (Matthew 3:13-15). It was also to give us a commandment and an example to follow… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Our baptism is a testimony that we are disciples of Jesus Christ because it is a clear sign that we are becoming more like Him… “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Our baptism is the step of obedience that associates us with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our baptism attaches us to Christ. The Spirit moved Paul to teach that when we are baptized with Christ we die with Him… “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3). Our old selfish, sinful nature was put to death through faith in Jesus Christ and confirmed in our baptism. Looking to the crucifixion of Christ gives us the faith to be crucified with Him that we might also be raised to new life with Him… “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Being joined by faith to Christ through the testimony of our baptism empowers us to say with the Apostle Paul… “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Our baptism sets us free from the sin nature and attaches us in the spirit to our Savior Jesus Christ.

Our baptism alienates us from the world. Those true disciples that have died with Christ and are now living a new life of faith in Christ are no longer consumed and conquered by the things of the world… “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). We no longer live just for today but we live for the soon coming day when Jesus shall return and we shall be gathered together to be with Him in glory… “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). Our baptism stirs resentment and rejection in the rebellious and often alienates us from the unbelieving world around us.

As we grow up into Christ, we enjoy new life in Him since we died and we are raised with Him in…

The Baptism that Separates Us.