The Eighth Day of Creation

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

 Romans 6:4

This past Sunday we had an opportunity at Fishers to celebrate the 8^th day of Creation.  Now you may be wondering – “What do you mean?  I thought there were 7 days of creation?  What’s this 8^th day of creation?”  Well the 8^th day is the Day of Resurrection – Easter!  “But this past Sunday wasn’t Easter.  It was the Baptism of Jesus.” 

Let me explain.  We believe that God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7^th.  That’s the account of Genesis 1.  However, God’s creation was, as Paul wrote to the Romans, “subjected to frustration” by man’s fall into sin.  Since that fateful day when Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit and ate, this world, like us, has been dying! Scripture is clear – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” (Romans 5:12).  Our Lord though had a plan… a plan for undoing sin and death…  a plan for a “do over…” a plan to start a new creation.  That plan was to give His Son to begin a new humanity.  That’s what Jesus did by His life, death and resurrection.  Jesus lived the life we fail to live… the perfect life that the Father commands and desires.  He lived that life on our behalf… in our place.  Then He offered that life up on the cross as payment for our Fall and failure.  So, when Jesus rose again… when He conquered death… when He became the “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.  (1 Cor. 15:20-23)  With His resurrection that first Easter Sunday the new creation had begun in Him.   Jesus is the new Adam.  That’s why we call Easter the 8^th day of creation.

Now what does that have to do with January 13 worship at Fishers?  January 13 was not Easter.  Well in a sense it was for us… especially for the youngest among us last Sunday.  Little newborn Luke was baptized last Sunday at our 8:30am worship.  Listen or read how Paul explains what happens to us in baptism.  “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Through baptism God adopted Luke as His own child.  God united him with Jesus – buried with Christ and raised with him.  In that moment Luke began a new life in Christ… as part of the new humanity – as a part the body of those who believe in Jesus!  Sunday, January 13 was Luke’s personal Easter.  He became a part of God’s new creation.  January 13^th was for Luke the 8^th day of creation.

That, my friends, is also true of your baptism.  As one baptized into Christ Jesus, God has adopted you.  He buried the old you in Christ’s empty tomb and raised you up with Jesus to live a new life.  Think what that means.  For one thing sin is no longer master over you.  Oh, you still sin – daily and much – but each day as you confess your sin to God you Father, you return to Him.  Once more, He forgives you.  He raises you up again and again.  That’s the pattern baptism sets up for your new life… daily crucified with Christ and raised up with Him.  That’s God’s promise for this new life.   

In this way, right now, by this work, God is continuing that work of new creation in your life and mine.  He is growing that new creation through our witness to the world.  He uses us to invite others to know Jesus, believe in Him, be born anew of water and the Spirit.  One day, when God is finished with this new work of creation He will invite you and me to do what He did on the 7^th day.  He will invite us to enter the eternal rest of heaven.  So, my challenge to you is to think daily about your baptism, to consider daily the work He began in you on that day!  Live your life in that hope, trusting His promise and work begun in you on the 8^th day of creation!