Standing with our team at the river Zygakti in Northern Greece where the Apostle Paul baptized Lydia (the first European convert to Christianity), we were reminded of the transformative power of the gospel.

Lydia, a worshiper of God and a successful businesswoman welcomed Paul and his companions into her home after her baptism, showing the profound impact of her newfound faith (Acts 16:13-15).

As we reflected on Lydia's story, our team felt inspired to participate in baptisms in this very river. We read from Romans 6, recognizing that baptism into Christ Jesus testifies that we've been baptized into His death. This profound act signifies the crucifixion of our old sinful nature and our freedom from sin (Romans 6:3-4).

In these verses, the apostle Paul used the Greek word "baptizō" to explain what happens to us. Baptizō is not just a religious word as it is perceived today. It was a common word used in ancient pickling recipes.
Paul was making the meaning clear. Baptism into Christ’s death brings permanent, irreversible change.

Growing up in Bulgaria, I understood the concept of permanent change through pickling. Just as cucumbers transform into pickles, never to return to their original state, our baptism signifies an irreversible transformation in Christ.

The apostle Paul wrote that “our old self was crucified with Him so that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6–7).

This means that anyone who is born again becomes “a new being; the old is gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ).

This is the Good News Lydia embraced—the same message that continues to change lives today. When we are baptized into Christ’s death, He single-handedly brings about a permanent change. He not only forgives our sins and sets us free from shame and condemnation, but He also sets us free from our corrupt nature and the world of sin that enslaved us.

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