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Immersion
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Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation of Life and Peace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Appointed Times of Unleavened Bread
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The appointed time of Unleavened Bread was prescribed to serve as a reminder of the old life of bondage, and value of leaving it behind. The family was to engage in a process of thoroughly removing all the leaven from the home, and cleansing it. What is the issue with leaven? It is a fermenting substance; a turbulent form of bacterium that is permeating and pervasive in nature. It spreads like a cancer or virus, contaminating, polluting and corrupting what it touches. As it spreads, it compromises and destroys what is true, good and otherwise pure. It therefore is used as a metaphor for sin and falsehood. There are many ways we can benefit from this truth today!
RELEVANCE
Unleavened Bread points forward to the LORD’s ongoing process of cleansing by the Holy Spirit; from the effects of sin and the corrupting and contaminating influences of the world, and establishing in us a pure heart and cleansed life before God.
In another sense, it is a reflection of the outward practice of water immersion, or baptism, which expresses what God has already done in the heart by burying the “old nature of the flesh.”
Messiah Jesus fulfilled all righteousness by allowing John the Immerser, or Baptist, to baptize Him in the Jordan. As He came up from the water, a dove descended upon Him.
This marked Him as the bearer of the Holy Spirit, and identified Him as the Servant Isaiah prophesied of. “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him...” (Isaiah 42:1 NKJV) John declared the LORD would thereafter baptize believers, “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)
Paul, therefore, affirmed that once immersed, or baptized, the believer should walk in the LORD’s grace, expressing this new nature.
Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:4-5 JNT)
The Lord would have us live the new life fully immersed in His love and identified in Him, experiencing the strength of His love, peace and joy! It is what He meant by “abiding in Him.” As He shared with His disciples…
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:7-10)
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
Have you participated in an outward immersion, or baptism?
How does your life reflect the inward change of your “new nature” in the LORD?
What other areas of the Lord’s character and nature might He be working in you this season?
REFERENCES
Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 3:11; John 1:26-34; Romans 6; Matthew 5:3-10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Galatians 5:22-26
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