"Planted Together in," Jesus Christ

"For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.... (Romans 6:5)

Earlier the Apostle says that we, "were baptized into Christ Jesus," that we, "were baptized into His death."  The word for "baptize" means more than just "to dip."  Vine says that the Greeks used the word "to signify the dyeing of a garment, or drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another."  When I was, "baptized into Christ Jesus," I was not just "dipped" into Christ Jesus.  I took on the same "color" as Jesus, "dipped" into Jesus to draw from Jesus' very Life. 

The KJV translates our text, "If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection...."  The word translated, "planted,"  means that we are "born together with, of joint origin, congenital (present from birth), innate, implanted by birth" in Jesus Christ.  "Born together" in Jesus, "of joint origin," present from birth, and since there is no "origin" or "birth" of Jesus, the reality is that I am from eternity in Jesus, "of joint origin;" hence, no beginning, no ending.

The cross has been described as "the great pivotal point of history."  Everything before the Cross pointed to the Cross, and everything after the Cross points back to the Cross.  Without the Cross of Jesus Christ, we have nothing, the human race, the planet would be headed toward the Pit.  The Cross of Jesus is not "done and over with."  This is behind Paul's statement, "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  It is obvious that Paul did not just keep repeating "the Cross, the Cross."  The Holy Spirit through Paul was saying that the Cross is central, foundational.  All the grace, mercy, faithfulness, provision, deliverance, joy, peace, etc., which we have in Jesus Christ came "at the Cross."  

"Planted," in Christ's Death, "Planted," in Christ's Resurrection."  What wondrous glory, mercy, and love!

Father, in Jesus' Name, "keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2