In Titus 3:4-7, Paul gives us a wonderful illustration of what happens to us in our baptism:
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Through baptism, we are washed and regenerated. I heard a preacher once who said that through baptism, we are given a new DNA, that we are regenerated, at least in the spiritual sense. Although we are both saint and sinner, the power of the Holy Spirit living in us points our feet to the path of active hope. It is the Holy Spirit’s power that enables us to live into a life that is alive to God in Jesus Christ.
This message is excerpted from “Troubled waters: Our baptismal identity” by Angela T. Khabeb in the August 2018 Café online magazine.
Copyright © 2024 Women of the ELCA. Inquiries for permission to reproduce should be directed to [email protected].