A sharing by Elena Villa-Real for this song:
Having been baptized in another church with little explanation on what baptism was all about, I was struck with how deep the meaning of baptism is as Pastor Eric taught on it in his messages on baptism. What hit me most distinctly was the emphasis on the word ‘with’, that is, we are to die with Christ so as to be raised with him [Rom. 6:4f].
Curious to find out more what ‘united’ in Christ’s death and resurrection meant, I decided to study Rom. 6.5 in the original. There I found a unique word for “united together” in a baptism like his, that it was being “planted together” with him in his death and burial, and thus growing together in being resurrected with him. Shortly afterwards, I noticed that in James 1:21, there was a word there with the same root, ‘planted’. But in James, it reads “receive with meekness the ‘implanted’ Word, meaning ‘sown’. I decided to check my work by asking Pastor Eric Chang to look at it. It was a precious time learning more on the topic from him.
And then the melody just came one day soon after that conversation with my teacher. Having the lyrics and melody come together in such a surprising way, I couldn’t help but share the song right away to my teacher and brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage them as I was mightily encouraged by Abba Yahweh.
Recently, Pastor Joy Ng recorded the song so beautifully and encouraged me to share it once more, this time on the church website. She herself was encouraged when Jessica Goh came along and helped her with the recording.
May all who hear this song be encouraged what it means to be united with Christ.
Credits:
Music and lyrics by Elena Villa-Real
Sung by Joy Ng
© Copyright Elena Villa-Real – All Rights Reserved
(c) 2021 Christian Disciples Church