Dead and Alive!

Historians agree that the mode of baptism in the early church was immersion The believer was “buried” in the water and brought up again as a picture of death, burial and resurrection. It is an outward symbol of an inward experience. Their immersion is a picture of what the Spirit did: The Holy Spirit identified them with Christ in Hs death, burial and resurrection.
 
What does this mean? That the believer has a new relationship to sin. He is “dead to sin.” Gal. 2:20 says,” I am crucified with Christ.”
Illus: If a drunk dies, he can no longer be tempted by alcohol because his body is dead to all physical senses. He cannot see the alcohol, smell it, taste it or desire it. In Jesus Christ we have died to sin so that we no longer want to “continue in sin.” But we are only dead to sin; we are also alive in Christ. We have been raised fro the dead and now walk in the power of His resurrection. We walk in “newness of life” because we share His life. “ I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live”( Gal.2:20)