...having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:12 (ESV)
 
     It is no wonder that the enemies of the gospel have tried to distract believers from the true meaning of baptism with fights and divisions over such issues as infant vs. believer's baptism, different modes of baptism, baptism for the dead etc. There is power in the baptism Jesus offers.

     But then again, mankind needs power. We are in such need that just some good--even great--teaching will not suffice. That is why the condescension of some pseudo-intellectuals that Jesus is one of the greatest teachers does not impress. We could not be saved with great teaching--even the greatest. Our need is more than ignorance. And we need more than extreme motivation. Our problem is not that we have not been prodded enough. Nor is it one of finding the key to our inner passion. We could listen to the proverbs of wise men through the ages and coin our phrases in just such sequence that we always say the right thing to ourselves and others, but we wouldn't be saved from our tyrannical bondage.

     We need more than a good example of personal sacrifice and altruism. Yes we are selfish and our narcissistic culture reinforces it, but we will never break free of self-obsession just by trying to model after one who was self-giving.

     Only death will deliver us from the bondage sin has brought on. Separated from God, we have made ourselves the center of the universe and we can't escape this love-me prison. We have only one hope: death. But that is frightening because we know that mankind dies and after that the judgment. So what is our hope? The GOOD NEWS of God is that our representative has died for us and that we can actually experience the power of that death...and resurrection when we believe.

     No wonder Paul says emphasizes faith in the powerful working of God. There were some major obstacles to be overcome for us to be reconciled to God. Sin had to be paid for in real terms. Jesus died a real death to pay a real debt to satisfy a real justice. The power of death was beyond human ability to conquer. Jesus faced death and won. Satan's legal weapons were snatched from his grasp. The powers of darkness were pushed back into the regions of defeat as the might power of God was released on behalf of the Son. The baptism of Jesus was into a death and resurrection that would liberate those who believed from everything sin, death and hell could muster. This was no mere "good example" for us to admire and aspire to. This was the most powerful exertion of energy the universe has ever witnessed. Whatever the Big Bang consisted of is more like a small firecracker when compared to the power release connected with the death and resurrection of Jesus. This was the big bang of New Creation. It was not just physical, but also spiritual. This event shook the heavens and the earth for eternity.

     Now, Paul says that we can enter into this baptism and resurrection by faith. Nothing will ever be the same as we believe. No power can supersede it. No power can overcome it. We are forever forgiven, accepted, circumcised, liberated and empowered. What a gospel!