Growing Through Joshua

So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood...--Joshua 4:8-9

To gain the full significance of these verses, consider Romans 6:1-5 from The Message:

So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.

Now when did we die to sin? "All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death" (Romans 6:3). You see, Christ died for you and me--and that is the picture we see here in the book of Joshua. Twelve stones were put into the water of death. Those twelve stones were put into the Jordan to ultimately proclaim the death of Jesus Christ. And the twelve stones taken out of the Jordan and moved to the west bank represent the resurrection of Christ.

When you're baptized, you make a personal identification with Jesus Christ--with his death, with his burial, and with his resurrection. It is only in the measure that we are identified with him that we can enjoy all the spiritual blessings afforded to us.

Now, when the Israelites crossed over the river, they became citizens of a new land. When you become a Christian, you become a citizen of a new land--heaven:

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ...--Philippians 1:27

What God did for the children of Israel he did for their benefit, your benefit, and mine. He did it that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful (Joshua 4:24). Not only that, he did it so all the people throughout all the world would have the opportunity to be his "chosen people."

Have you been baptized into Jesus Christ?