But the cross doesn't just lead us to suffering. It also leads to the resurrection of Jesus and to our participation, by faith, in his resurrected life. We emerge from baptism with the sign of victory on our foreheads. Baptism is God's gift to us for all of life. It is not an insurance policy, or a one time event to be quickly forgotten.
Baptism is new life.
It covers the old totally because Christ's death covers our sin totally. Whether our Baptism comes to us as infants, or adults, or somewhere in-between, its effect is for our whole lifetime, and even beyond. That's why we read these words from Paul at both baptism and funerals. We are alive in Jesus Christ and able to live in this world as His children thanks to our Baptism. May the Holy Sprit help us daily to remember, study, give thanks for, and live our Baptismal gift.