What It Is To Be A Baptised Christian

Romans 6 says that we have been buried with Christ in baptism and risen to new life in him. As we have been buried with Christ we have also been crucified with Christ. Therefore our world view is that of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5says that Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. Therefore to be a baptised Christian is to be one who no longer lives for ones self but for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5 goes on to say the consequence of be one who no longer lives for ones self but for Christ saying that from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

As we regard no one from a worldly point of view, we regard them from Christ’s point of view. Because of what Christ has done, with Gods help we can fulfil our baptism vows.

With Gods help we are able to continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in breaking of the bread, and in prayers as the first century Christians did (Acts 2:41-43 ) If we still had a worldly point of view we wouldn’t want to do this. To be a baptised Christian is to be in communion with other Christians.

With Gods help we are able to persevere in resisting evil and whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord (James 4:7, 1 John 1:9) If we still had a worldly point of view we would be more likely to blame God like Adam did or The Devil like Eve did. To be a baptised Christian is to be responsible for ones own actions.

With Gods help we are able to proclaim by word a and example the good news of God in Christ. (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19) If we still had a worldly point of view we would be unconcerned about proclaiming the good news. We would not be interested in how Christ looked but how we looked.

With Gods help we to serve Christ in others and love our neighbours as ourselves ( Leviticus 19:18 Matthew 19:19,Matthew 22:39,Mark 12:33,Luke 10:27,Romans 13:9, James 2:8) With a worldly point of view this would be impossible. Jesus said that if one sins against us seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to us and says, 'I repent,' we are to forgive them. Forgiveness of ours is contrary to the worldly point of view. The world wants to get even rather than turn the other cheek. So to be a baptised Christian is to go against the grain of the world and be Christ like.

With Gods help we are able to acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and it’s leaders, by defending the weak, and seeking peace and justice. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 Philippians 2:11, Philippians 4:6-7,Isaiah 1:17)

As we are able to do these things with Gods help, being rooted and established in love we bring forth the fruit of The Spirit.

In short, to be a baptised Christian is to be unlike the world and making the world a better place by not being like it. We are the salt of the Earth.