God's Divine Surgery

Good day everyone. I hope this writing finds you learning and growing in Christ. Let's continue our study and look at the subject, from God's Word, on baptism. Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…" He also spoke in Mark 16:15-16, "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." In Acts 2 beginning with verse 36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." John 4:1 "The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John…" I have a question for you to consider...Did Christ need sin removed from His Perfect, sinless life? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Go with me in your own copy of God's Word to; 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (KJV) On the cross, Jesus Christ The Son of The Living God did something tremendous. He died for OUR sins by becoming that sin, according to God's Word. He was OUR sacrifice that God accepted as supreme and this would allow us to have what He had to offer, salvation FROM sin. Of course, we know what happened 3 days after He died with that sin ON Him. Praise God, He arose from the dead. And we notice in the scriptures as He walked on this earth after His resurrection, He was different, He was glorified in a new life given by God in that resurrection. This is what we celebrate any and every Lord's Day when we come together to worship; it is the very reason we worship. The Apostle Paul revisits this event in Romans 6. Open your copy of God's Word and notice this with me. Romans 6:1-6, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (KJV) Sin ON Christ was destroyed, by God, when Christ was obedient to The Father and died as our sin sacrifice and was buried. When He resurrected that sin was gone, no longer to separate Christ from His Father as we saw in the crucifixion event. Paul tells us there in Romans that when we repent, die TO sin, and are baptized, buried with Christ, we then rise to walk differently, in a glorified state of being saved FROM our sin. How important is baptism? How important is it that you have sin taken away so you can receive the greatest gift ever offered to mankind? It is of eternal importance. Baptism is not a work of man as some want to claim. But it is a work, most definitely. Go again in your copy of God's Word to Colossians 2. Beginning in verse 11, "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" (KJV) Baptism is the divine surgery done only by The Great Physician Himself, and where He removes the one thing that separates us from Him, SIN! Like as Christ was raised by God to live that glorified life, we too rise from God's surgery to walk and live to serve Him for the promise of heaven itself. James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. God bless until next time...