《聖經》分為兩個大部分，“舊約”和“新約。”新約寫於第一世紀。新約裡面的一卷“書信”是寫給住在歌羅西的基督徒。歌羅西就是在今天的土耳其。〈歌羅西書〉的作者是耶穌的一名使徒，名叫保羅。
書信中，保羅提醒歌羅西的基督徒，他們成為基督徒的時候，他們受了洗禮。信中，保羅用短短的一句話，把有關受洗的真理解釋清楚。在此，保羅不但幫助當時，第一世紀的基督徒明白他們的信仰，同時也使得我們今天的人了解“受洗”的意義。請聽保羅的話：“你們既受洗與他一同埋葬，也就在此與他一同復活，都因信那叫他從死里復活神的功用”（歌羅西書 2:12）。
從這短短的經文里可知，受洗包括六件事實，就是我以下要談的。
第一：“你們” 指歌羅西城的基督徒而言。在歌羅西書開頭的第一句話里，保羅就說明他把信函寫給在歌羅西的基督徒，所以“你們”指着基督徒。
第二：“你們既受洗” 表示所有在歌羅西的基督徒都受了洗。
第三：“你們既受洗與他一同埋葬。” 從這句話里，我們知道一個人受洗的時候他就在那時刻與耶穌基督一同埋葬。（下面，會把這句話解釋清楚。）
第四：“也就在此與他一同復活。” 張三受洗時，不但與耶穌基督一同埋葬，也與他一同復活。耶穌基督被釘在十字架上，死了，葬在墳墓里，第三天復活了，是基督徒都相信的，也是基督教的基礎。當張三接受洗禮時，他就經歷到耶穌的死和復活，使得保羅說，“…同埋葬，與他一同復活。”
第五：“都因信那叫他從死里復活神的功用。” 在這句話里，保羅為我們解釋清楚說，洗禮的意義和“力量”來自哪裡。洗禮的意義和力量來自神和耶穌。來自耶穌的復活；來自叫耶穌復活的神。“因信”指着受洗者。接受洗禮的那位相信神，相信耶穌，相信神使得耶穌復活。“都因信那叫他從死里復活神的功用。”當張三受洗時，如果他沒有信心，不信仰神，他受洗還不如他洗澡。但是，因為他相信那位耶穌，洗禮這件事，讓他接觸到耶穌的十字架、寶血和復活。換句話說，當張三受洗的時候，他表示他對耶穌的信心；他表達他相信耶穌復活了。所以，張三受洗時，才真正接觸耶穌的死亡和復活。
第六：“都因信那叫他從死里復活神的功用。” 這句話又包含着另一個意思，就是讓我們知道，受洗怎麼能夠讓張三和耶穌的死亡和復活聯結。這都是“神的功用。”神使得耶穌復活，神使得張三接觸耶穌的寶血。神讓張三在他受洗的時刻，因為耶穌的聖血而當時就使得他成為基督徒。這是人做不到的。張三，李四，您，我都做不到的；只有神才能做到。所以保羅說這都是，“神的功用。”是“神的大能”的意思。
把話講回來吧，《聖經》的教導是，“你們既受洗與他一同埋葬，也就在此與他一同復活，都因信那叫他從死里復活神的功用。”從此可知，當我們受洗時，我們與耶穌基督一同埋葬，一同復活。我們受洗表示我們相信耶穌復活了，表示我們要信仰耶穌為道路、真理、生命。我們承認只有神才會叫人復活，只有神才會使得我們成為基督徒。
朋友，請您快一點來信耶穌，受洗成為基督徒。
【洗禮】一：六件事實
“Baptism” 01: Six Facts
作者：謝德華 ©By Edward Short
Six Facts About Baptism
Colossians 2:12
The Bible is composed of two major sections, the “Old Testament” and the “New Testament.” The New Testament was written in the first century. One of the letters in the New Testament was written to Christians in the city of Colosse, which was in modern day Turkey. Paul, one of the apostles of Jesus, wrote Colossians.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul reminded the Christians in Colosse that they were baptized when they became Christians. In one brief sentence, Paul made clear the truths regarding baptism, and in so-doing, Paul not only helped those first century Christians under¬stand their faith, he also enabled us today to understand the meaning of baptism. Here is what Paul said: “when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead” [Colossians 2:12, NIV].
There are six facts about baptism which we learn from this short verse. Here they are: [Wording is based on the Chinese Bible—ES]
One: “You”— the “you” in this verse refers to the Christians in Colosse. In the opening sentence of the letter, Paul declares that he is writing to Christians in Colosse, so the “you” in this sentence refers to them.
Two: “when you were buried …in baptism”— indicates that all the Christians in Colosse had been baptized.
Three: “…were buried with him in baptism”— in baptism, a person is buried with Jesus. (This will be explained below.)
Four: “you were also raised with him”— when a person is baptized, he not only is buried with Jesus Christ but he is also raised with him. Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross, died there, was buried in a tomb and then was resurrected on the third day. These facts are believed by all Christians and they are the foundation of the Christian faith. When someone receives baptism, he participates in the death and resurrection of Jesus, which leads Paul to say, “you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him.”
Five: “…through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” Here Paul explains clearly what the meaning of baptism is and from where it obtains its “power.” The significance of baptism comes from God and Jesus, as does its power. Jesus’ resurrection and the God who raised him give meaning to baptism. “…through faith” refers to the person who was baptized. That person has faith in God, believes in Jesus and believes that God resurrected Jesus from death. “…through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” If a person who is baptized has no faith and does not trust in God, being baptized is for him no better than taking a bath. Because he does have faith in Jesus, however, baptism enables him to contact the cross, the blood and the resurrection of Jesus. In other words, baptism is itself an expression of one’s faith in Jesus and his resurrection. Only when a person is baptized does he finally contact the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Six: “…through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” There is yet something else in Paul’s statement. We see how baptism enables a person to contact the death and resurrection of Jesus—“the power of God.” God called Jesus forth from the grave and in baptism God causes a person to contact the precious blood of Jesus and become a Christian. Neither you nor I nor anyone else can accomplish this; only God can do it. Thus Paul says that this is by “the power of God.”
In conclusion, the Bible teaches that “when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” From this we know that when we’re baptized we’re buried with Jesus Christ and are raised with him. In baptism we acknowledge that we believe that Jesus was resurrected and that we want to put our faith in him as the Way, the Truth and the Life. We admit that only God can raise the dead and only God can make us Christians.
I hope you will put your faith in Jesus, be baptized and become a Christian.