Symbolism/ Reality of Baptism Series: One Flesh

"Since it is by baptism that we become united to Christ,—“put on Christ,”—a very important question is, “At what point do we come into contact with Christ?” That is, “At what stage in the ministry of Christ do we become united to Him?” 

The answer to this gives the key to the entire subject of bap tism. This question is answered in Romans 6:3,4, as follows:
Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  

The death of Christ, then, is that by which we become united to Him. It is, so to speak, the marriage ceremony, by which we declare our union with Christ. 

Paul says, 2 Corinthians 11:2 I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 

Just as in ordinary marriage two persons are united, so that they are no longer two, but “one flesh,” so in putting on Christ we become one with Him. Paul, after declaring that... Ephesians 5:31 ...a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh,–adds, 32 This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 

But in this union with Christ it is His personality that dominates; we yield ourselves to Him—become swallowed up in Him— so that the one person is not us with Christ." 

E.J. Waggoner