弟兄姊妹平安,
「你們既受洗與他一同埋葬，也就在此與他一同復活．都因信那叫他從死裡復活 神的功用。」西2:12
主耶穌既甘願道成肉身，降世為人，為我們死，為我們埋葬，為我們復活。我們又為主作了什麼呢？我們是否已和主一同埋葬呢？
每一個重生得救的基督徒立志一生跟隨耶穌，就必公開承認：耶穌是救主、是生命的主。我們是藉着浸禮「歸入死和他一同埋葬」。所以基督徒的浸禮就是葬禮，在4月17日的復活主日，有六位弟兄姊妹會在眾人面前講述耶穌在他們身上的救贖，在基督裏成了新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。我們與他們互為肢體，他們的浸禮也是我們生命歷程的提醒：信靠耶穌、跟從基督、一生一世、永不改變。
與主同埋葬既是一次的公開見證，更是表明我們活在主耶穌裡面，一生一世去迎戰黑暗的權勢。埋葬的意思就是我們這一生是一個於己於世界死透了的人。保羅說：因這十字架，就我而論，世界已經釘在十字架上；就世界而論，我已經釘在十字架上。（加6:14）與主一同埋葬的人，就能丟棄萬事, 看為糞土; 既一起經歷了身體和心靈上的血和淚，也與主一起同步走過死蔭的幽谷，直面撒但，因著主的寶血勝過罪惡與死亡的枷鎖。
復活節前的不同退修和靜思聚會, 就是要裝備信徒靈命成長, 在所遇上的不同歷練和試探中攻克己身，叫身服我，以思念耶穌。我們與主一同死透了嗎？我們與主一同埋葬了嗎？
「所以我們藉著洗禮歸入死、和他一同埋葬．原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式、像基督藉著父的榮耀、從死裡復活一樣。」羅馬書6:4
主內
王 興
2022年4月8日
< To Be Buried with Christ> 8th April, 2022
Dear brothers and sisters,
‘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.’ Col 2:12
The Lord Jesus came to the world, the Word became flesh, died, was buried and rose again for us. What have we done for the Lord? Have we been buried with Him?
Every born-again Christian who is determined to follow Jesus would openly declare that Jesus is his Saviour and Lord. Through baptism, ‘we were buried with Him into death’ Therefore, baptism is a funeral to Christians. On the Easter Sunday, 6 brothers and sisters will proclaim their redemption by Jesus in front of everyone, that anyone is in Christ is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come. Being in the same Body, their baptism is a reminder of our life journey: trusting in Jesus, following Christ with no turning back.
To be buried with Christ is a testimony and a declaration that we abide in the Lord Jesus to face the dominion of darkness. ‘To be buried’ means that we are completely dead to ourselves and the world. Paul said, ‘through the cross the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.’ (Gal 6:14) Those who are buried with the Lord can discard all things and consider them garbage; not only have they experienced blood and tears, but they have also walked with the Lord through the valley of the shadow of death and faced Satan, overcoming sin and death by the precious blood of the Lord.
Various retreats and meditation meetings before Easter are to equip believers to overcome the different trials and temptations they encounter, to strike a blow to their body and make it their slave so as to cherish the Lord. Are we dead with the Lord? Are we buried with the Lord?
‘We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.’ Romans 6:4
In Him,
Sam Wong