8 APRIL
Daily Bible Reading: Romans 6, 1Samuel 10-12
BAPTISM: DIED & RAISED
Baptism is not only about tradition, that is a strong declaration! Baptism is not only a requirement, that is an important commitment! Baptism is not only a symbol, that is a way of life. Paul explained the essential of water baptism so deep! He wrote: “That as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life Rm.6:3-4.”
Baptism means that we had died to sin so that we must not live any longer in it. We must not continue in sin! We must say no to sin because we already died to sin. The old man who love to do sins already died. We are no longer an old man anymore. Paul said: “Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin Rm.6:6-7.”
Baptism doesn’t stop with dead, it also means being raised again! Just as Christ was died in the cross and then raise again, so that we also raise again as the new man. We must walk in the newness of life. We have a new life! We are not supposed to do the sinful old life style anymore. This is our declaration: I am the new man. This is our commitment: I am not going to continue in sin. This is our way of life: walk in the newness of life, walk just as Jesus walked 1Jn.2:6.
BAPTISAN: MATI & BANGKIT
Baptisan bukan hanya tentang tradisi, baptisan adalah deklarasi yang kuat! Baptisan bukan hanya persyaratan, baptisan adalah komitmen yang penting! Baptisan bukan hanya simbol, baptisan adalah cara hidup. Paulus menjelaskan pentingnya baptisan air dengan begitu mendalam! Dia menulis, “Kita semua yang telah dibaptis dalam Kristus, telah dibaptis dalam kematian-Nya. Dengan demikian kita telah dikuburkan bersama-sama dengan Dia oleh baptisan dalam kematian, supaya, sama seperti Kristus telah dibangkitkan dari antara orang mati oleh kemuliaan Bapa, demikian juga kita akan hidup dalam hidup yang baru Rm.6:3-4.
Baptisan berarti bahwa kita telah mati bagi dosa sehingga kita tidak boleh hidup lagi di dalamnya. Jangan bertekun di dalam dosa! Kita harus mengatakan tidak pada dosa karena kita sudah mati bagi dosa. Manusia lama yang suka berbuat dosa sudah mati. Kita bukan lagi manusia lama. Paulus berkata, “Manusia lama kita telah turut disalibkan, supaya tubuh dosa kita hilang kuasanya, agar jangan kita menghambakan diri lagi kepada dosa. Sebab siapa yang telah mati, ia telah bebas dari dosa Rm.6:6-7.”
Baptisan tidak hanya berhenti dengan kematian, baptisan juga berarti dibangkitkan kembali! Sama seperti Kristus mati di kayu salib dan kemudian bangkit kembali, demikian juga kita bangkit kembali sebagai manusia baru. Kita harus berjalan dalam hidup yang baru. Kita memiliki kehidupan yang baru! Kita tidak seharusnya melakukan lagi gaya hidup lama yang penuh dosa. Inilah deklarasi kita: Saya adalah manusia baru. Inilah komitmen kita: Saya tidak akan berbuat dosa lagi. Inilah cara hidup kita: berjalan dalam hidup yang baru, hidup seperti Yesus hidup 1Yoh.2:6.
