Buried With Christ, Raised to Walk
There are Sundays when we hear the gospel proclaimed, and there are Sundays when we get to see a picture of it right in front of us. This past Sunday was one of those days.
We had the incredible joy of watching Joe, Shannon, Emma, and Benji step into the water and publicly declare that they belong to Jesus Christ. Four people, four stories, four lives, but one Savior.
And what makes this season even sweeter is that they weren't the only ones. Just one week earlier, four more members of our church family, Amanda and John England, along with Garrison and Memphis, were baptized.
That means that over the course of just two weeks, we have had the privilege of celebrating eight baptisms in our Watkins Community Church family.
There is a lot we could say about that, but perhaps the simplest response is this: God is gracious, and we have so much reason to celebrate.
Baptism Tells a Story
Before the baptisms this Sunday, we spent some time in Romans 6:1–4, where Paul writes that believers have been buried with Christ in baptism so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead, “we too might walk in newness of life.”
That phrase captures so beautifully what we witnessed. Baptism tells a story, but it isn't primarily the story of the person standing in the water. It is the story of Jesus Christ.
When someone goes beneath the water, we see a picture of death and burial. When they are raised again, we see a picture of resurrection and new life.
Jesus Christ came for sinners. He lived the righteous life we could not live, died the death our sin deserved, was buried, and on the third day rose again. Everyone who turns from sin and trusts in Him is united to Him. His death counts for us, His righteousness becomes ours, and His resurrection gives us the hope of resurrection and eternal life.
That's why the water itself isn't what saves.
Jesus saves.
Baptism is the outward declaration of that inward reality. It is someone standing before the church and saying, “I have trusted in Jesus Christ. I belong to Him.”
So when Joe, Shannon, Emma, and Benji entered the water on Sunday, we weren't celebrating four people who had finally gotten everything figured out. The same is true of Amanda, John, Garrison, and Memphis the week before. We were celebrating the grace of a really good Savior. Their declaration wasn't, “Look at what I have accomplished.” It was, “Look at what Christ has done.”
Raised to Walk
But baptism doesn't only tell us something about what Christ has already done. It also points us toward the life ahead.
Paul says we are raised to “walk in newness of life.” Walking implies movement. There is somewhere to go. There is a life to be lived.
When someone is baptized, they aren't promising that they will never struggle with sin again. They aren't saying they understand everything about Christianity or that every question has been answered.
They are declaring their allegiance:
Jesus is my Lord. I belong to Him. And by His grace, I intend to follow Him.
There will be wonderful seasons in that walk. There will also be difficult ones. There will be moments when faith feels strong and moments when following Jesus simply means putting one foot in front of the other and trusting that He remains faithful.
That's why baptism isn't a finish line. It is a beautiful marker along the road of discipleship.
Years from now, our hope is that each of these eight brothers and sisters can look back on these days and remember what they publicly declared: I belong to Jesus Christ. Not because their grip on Him will always be strong, but because He is faithful. When we fall, we repent. We trust Him again. And we keep walking.
And We Will Walk With You
There was another part of Sunday's baptism that I hope we don't quickly forget. Baptism is personal, but Christianity was never intended to be private. These eight people are not being sent out to follow Jesus by themselves. They are part of a church family.
Scripture calls us to bear one another's burdens, pray for one another, encourage one another, forgive one another, lovingly correct one another, rejoice together, weep together, and continually point one another back to Christ. That's what the church is supposed to be.
So on Sunday, Joe, Shannon, Emma, and Benji weren't the only ones making a commitment. We were too.
As they publicly declared, “I belong to Jesus,” Watkins Community Church responded: “Then we will walk with you.”
When you struggle, we'll remind you of the gospel. When you're hurting, we'll help carry the burden. When you begin wandering, we'll love you enough to call you back. When God is working in your life, we'll celebrate with you. And when following Jesus becomes difficult, we'll remind you that He is still worth following.
And we need these brothers and sisters to do the same for us. Because none of us graduates from needing the church.
Eight Baptisms. One Gospel.
What a gift these past two weeks have been.
Amanda. John. Garrison. Memphis. Joe. Shannon. Emma. Benji.
Eight names, each representing a person made in the image of God with their own story of His grace.
But baptism directs our attention beyond every individual story to the one story that makes all of them possible.
Christ died. Christ was buried. Christ is risen.
And because Christ is risen, those who belong to Him have been given new life.
So, Watkins Community Church, let's celebrate.
Let's celebrate these eight brothers and sisters. Let's pray for them and encourage them. Let's help them follow Jesus, and let's allow them to help us follow Him too. But above everything else, let's celebrate Christ.
Because Baptism Sunday isn't ultimately a celebration of what we have accomplished. It's a celebration of what Jesus has done.
And now, together, we walk in newness of life.
Reflection Questions
When you see someone baptized, what does baptism remind you about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus?
Baptism declares, “I belong to Jesus.” What areas of your life are hardest for you to place under His lordship?
Romans 6 says believers are raised to “walk in newness of life.” Where have you seen evidence of Christ changing your life?
