“聯合，”“結合，”“合而為一，”這幾個詞，意思都差不多一樣。我結婚的時候，就跟我太太“結合”在一塊兒。如果要建立一個美滿快樂的家庭，夫妻都要“合而為一。”
《聖經》用同一個說法形容基督徒與耶穌基督彼此之間的關係。張三李四成為基督徒時，就要跟耶穌聯結起來，聯合起來。
也許您很想問我，一個人與耶穌基督“聯結起來，”與耶穌建立這種往來，是由什麼時候開始的呢？《聖經》羅馬書六章五節告訴我們說，是從受洗的時候開始的。請聽使徒保羅的話：“我們若在他死的形狀上與他聯合，也要在他復活的形狀上與他聯合。”
當張三接受洗禮時，就象徵著他經歷了耶穌的埋葬和復活。耶穌釘十字架後，被安葬在墳墓里，第三天復活了。張三入水受洗時，象徵他與耶穌一同埋葬。張三被埋在水裡只有半秒鐘，但是，當張三從水裡出來時，又象徵著他與耶穌一同復活。在那短短的時間內，張三就“在[耶穌]死的形狀上與他聯合。”從此以後，張三就是一名基督徒。
朋友，現在您曉得“洗禮”對基督徒是那樣重要。您是否想要與基督“聯合”呢？請您藉著洗禮與耶穌基督聯合，成為基督徒。
【洗禮】四：與耶穌聯合
“Baptism” 04: United with Christ
作者：謝德華 ©By Edward Short
United With Christ
Romans 6:5
One aspect of English that makes it a unique language is the use of synonyms. Unite, combine, integrate, link and ally all have similar meanings. Think about marriage, for example. When we married, my wife and I were “united” in matrimony and we were “linked” together. We were determined to establish a happy and harmonious home, so we “integrated” with each other; we “combined” and “united” our minds, purposes and lives.
The Bible uses similar wording to describe the relationship between a Christian and Jesus Christ; the Bible says that a Christian is to be “united” with Christ.
And how is a person united with Christ? When does someone begin such a relationship with Jesus Christ? The answer is found in Romans chapter six, verse five, which tells us that it’s in baptism that a believer is united with Christ. The apostle Paul says, “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection” [NIV].
When a person is baptized, he symbolizes the burial and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was nailed to the cross and then buried in a tomb but was raised on the third day. When a person enters the water of baptism, he is buried with Jesus in a symbolic way. His burial with Jesus beneath the water is but less than a second, yet it carries deep meaning. When he comes up from the water, the person symbolizes his resurrection with Jesus. In that very brief period of time he’s “united with [Jesus] like this in his death.” In this brief moment, the person becomes a Christian. He’s united, allied, combined, integrated and linked with Jesus Christ.
Now you understand why baptism is so important to Christians. Don’t you too want to be united with Christ, to be allied and linked with the Son of God? Be baptized into Christ and thus be united with him and become his disciple.