In the midst of the overwhelming wave of cataclysmic end-time events and the accompanying frenzy of doomsday headlines, it’s easy to lose sight of the essential doctrine applicable to our lives today. These teachings are richly embedded in the passages from Romans through Hebrews. While understanding ‘the signs of the times’ remains vital, grounding ourselves in sound doctrine must be uppermost for our daily Christian walk. Let us not forget that amidst the chaos, a solid foundation in doctrine provides us with the unwavering guidance we need.

Beloved, this is an absolutely amazing truth: We are in Christ right now! From the moment we believe the gospel alone by faith alone, our identity is securely and eternally in Christ! This is an amazing, immeasurable, incomprehensible reality that leaps off the pages of Scripture.

“Know ye not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ (not into our local Church or a denomination, but into Jesus Christ; we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ), were baptized into His death?”

Romans 6:3

Read and meditate on these passages:

‘Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ‘

Romans 6:3

‘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.’

Romans 6:4

‘For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.’

Colossians 3:3

In these mind-boggling passages, the Apostle Paul defines our identity as believers in Christ. Water baptism cannot accomplish what is achieved here; it’s a spiritual act, the work of the Holy Spirit. We are baptized into Jesus Christ (the body of Christ), into His death, symbolizing the death of our old selves (old Adam) and the birth of our new identity in Him.

Paul alone teaches what is unique to grace-age believers: “The Body of Christ, which is His Church.” Just as a human body has many members with different functions but is one, so is the Body of Christ. It goes beyond denominational boundaries, emphasizing our spiritual connection with other believers and with our Lord and Savior Who is the Head of the Body.

The apostle Paul delineates how we are all (it doesn’t matter who we are as believers, from the great evangelist to the garbage can Christian we are ALL), as believers, members of His body baptized (the only baptism that counts) into the body of Christ by the work of the God the Holy Spirit.

‘For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.’

I Corinthians 12:12-14

In Romans 6:4, we’re reminded that (the instant we believed the gospel alone by faith alone) we’re buried with Him in baptism, symbolizing the death of our old Adam, sinful nature. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too walk in the newness of life. This spiritual baptism signifies that, in God’s eyes, our old selves have died (Colossians 3:3), and we are raised with Christ a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) to live victoriously.

Takeaway

Our identity is not in denominations or religious affiliations but in being in Christ, crucified with Him, buried with Him, and raised with Christ to new life.