Walter Scott is credited with coming up with the 5 steps of salvation. Today they are commonly listed as hear, believe, repent, confess and be baptized. This is basically a memory device; however, Scott’s’ list was actually slightly different: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Forgiveness, Eternal life.
The goal of belief in Jesus is not baptism, that is a byproduct of the process of belief. The goal of Christianity is stated here in Col. 3.
What comes next?
1. Lifelong transformation. Baptism is a claim to a transformed life. The 6th (even numerically ignored step) in the 5 step process is “live faithfully.” It’s actually more than that however. Paul says you are now a new creation. That is more glorious and more powerful than live faithfully. The phrase itself can convey the idea of just not messing up. The new self which is being renewed is on ongoing process. It’s getting rid of the old man. It’s a total change of direction. It doesn’t fully happen in the moment of baptism. Living faithfully is certainly a great concept as long as we understand that it means we continue the process of transformation. It is not merely keeping laws so we don’t sin again. The end goal is much bigger than this. So what does it mean to have life long transformation? What does it look like?
2. Living like Christ. When we transform we leave the old traits, anger, slander, malice, jealousy etc. Our new life should model Jesus character, expressed in Colossians 3:12-14. Being kind, compassionate, humble, patient, etc. It’s not just His character we are to emulate it’s also putting ourselves under His authority. This is expressed in Colossians 3:15-17. The Word of Christ dwells within us and we make our decisions based upon the principles Jesus teaches. A believer living a life of transformation is seeking to submit to Christ’s authority. What is the ultimate purpose of this transformation?
3. To live God’s created purpose for humanity. This is the end goal. In Colossians 3:10 we are told we put on the “new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” The goal is to return to what humanity was meant to be before the fall. Genesis 1:26-28 shows that God made man in His image. Man was to have dominion, rule the earth, and subdue it. He was also to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. This was man’s purpose. Heb. 2:8-9 quotes Psalms 8, describing man’s place in the world, but emphasizes how Jesus became this man. In Ephesians 5 married people living the purpose of God in life represent Christ and His bride, the church. The marriage relationship is a small version of humanity fulfilling his purpose to rule and fill the earth. This image is much bigger than you and I and our specific marriages. God’s purpose is much bigger. Baptism involves sin removal and should lead to faithful living, but it is also much bigger than these. It is a claim to joining the Christ humanity (cf. Romand 5- Leaving Adam and Joining Christ), which seeks the live God’s purpose for mankind.
Sermon by Brent Moody
