This sermon was originally preached on such an occasion, and the opportunity was taken to teach more thoroughly the church's understanding of what we were doing by making the link of a new beginning in the faith community with the Resurrection of Christ. It is being made available for similar teaching purposes.
Baptism is a new beginning like resurrection to begin a new life after death.
When people are baptised they begin a new life as members of the community of faith, the body of Christ. This comes about as a result of his sacrificial death in which we are united with him through baptism. So an old life is left behind and a new life is begun. Whether we are baptised as adults on confession of faith or as infants within the household of faith, we share in the new life which Christ began through his death and resurrection. The old life of sin is washed away and new life in the Spirit begins.