The power of darkness, the kingdom of light, and
baptism
He has delivered us
from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness
of sins.
How and when are we transferred from the dominion
of darkness into the Kingdom of God? Hint: This
transference involves the “forgiveness of sins.”
Acts 2:38 teaches baptism is when we receive the forgiveness
of sins and the Holy Spirit:
“Peter replied, "Repent
and be baptized, every one of you, in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins. And you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus Himself said that one must be born of water
and the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of
God:
John 3:5
Jesus
answered, "I tell you the truth, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Looking back to Acts 2:38
we see both the “water” and the” Spirit” that Jesus spoke about.
If
we tie Colossians 1:13-14, Acts 2:38, and John 3:5 all together, we plainly see
baptism is when and how we are transferred from the dominion of darkness
into the kingdom of light. Knowing this fact, we can also confirm from Peter’s
writings that before we become a part of God’s “holy nation” or, God’s kingdom,
we are in darkness:
But you are a chosen
people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you
out of darkness
into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the
people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received
mercy.
And
baptism, according to John 3:5 is how we enter God’s kingdom, or His “holy
nation” as Peter put it.
Before
baptism we are not in God’s kingdom. Before baptism we are not in God’s “holy
nation”. Before baptism we do not belong to God. Before baptism we have not
received mercy. Before baptism we have not received the forgiveness of sins.
Before baptism we have not yet received redemption.
But
there is a very simple and easy solution to this: BE BAPTIZED!
This
page added March 24, 2002