… having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:12 NIV
Through Your Faith
Religious freedom in Canada is an essential right. The freedom to believe and practice as we choose is closely related to core values of liberty and autonomy. Religious freedom in Canada means that there are no state-sponsored religions and that the government cannot prefer some religious beliefs or groups over others. According to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, “Freedom of religion is crucial to maintaining a private sphere for individuals and communities where the government does not—and cannot—intrude.”
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I was in Thailand just before the pandemic and witnessed the baptism of hundreds of new believers. There is a great move of God happening in that Asian nation. What a joy to watch as people stood in the lake, went under the water and came out with nothing short of rapturous joy on their faces. They had already been transformed by faith in Jesus Christ, but baptism offers a physical opportunity to express their new relationship with Jesus and show others what He has done for them. And what has He done for them? Paul the apostle expresses it this way: “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” In order to become a follower of Jesus, we are called to repent of our sin, turning our backs on our old life that was driven by worldly principles and actions. This is what Paul speaks about when he says we have been buried with Him in baptism. Then when we put our faith and trust in Jesus, we are brought to new life – that is the source of great joy!
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley