Although the sinister presence of the Count’s dark castle had controlled his small village, Frederick had not even noticed it, nor would have he or the other villagers even cared. Through promises and meaningless trinkets the Count had anesthetized the villagers to the reality of their serfdom. For the Count it was a wonderfully wicked scheme. He freely exploited and manipulated his slaves as tools for his own evil purposes while ensuring their continued loyalty by enamoring them with false promises and worthless gifts.
But all of this changed for Frederick. Although he did not escape servanthood, he had been freed from the world of darkness and death. Now he was a servant of a Master who loved him and used him as a tool of righteousness.
This fanciful story parallels the spiritual reality Paul described in Romans 6. Sin is a cruel master that enslaves humanity and uses individuals as tools of wickedness. But Christ’s death has made it possible for one to be freed from sin with its dire consequences.
Freedom in Christ does not mean “I have been liberated to follow my own path” (this is one of sin’s deceiving and worthless trinkets), rather it means that one has a change in ownership. A loving, holy and righteous God becomes one’s Master. Now the slave is a tool of righteousness as he strives toward the goal of obedience to God resulting in his holiness and eternal life.
Although Christ makes it possible for one to change masters, when and how is the change of ownership transacted? When is redemption (payment) made?
Paul wrote: “Thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching which was delivered to you, and having been made free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.” Romans. 6:17-18
Paul indicated that two elements are involved in one’s liberation from sin’s devastating control. First, one must obey from the heart. For this reason forcing someone or pressuring someone to “ritualistically obey” has no value. Paul describes one whose heart gushes forth in obedient behavior.
But the question remains, “what is this pattern which when obeyed from the heart resulted in freedom from sin?” Paul had already answered this question. One dies to sin and is liberated from its control when one is buried with Christ in baptism. One is then raised up from the watery tomb to a new life in Christ. Romans 6:2-4 Such a baptism is a response of faith in God who raised Christ Jesus from the dead. Colossians 2:12 Although water is necessary for immersion to occur, baptism is a dependence upon Christ not upon water. It is an active confession of calling upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Acts 22:16
Baptism is not a magic ritual (just "do this" and everything is OK) nor is it just an “optional extra” or merely a “symbolic ritual.” When a believing heart is motivated to obey God, baptism is that moment when Christ’s death changes my ownership.
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1998