Excerpted from Burning Desire by S.J. Hill Brides in ancient Israel experienced a mikvah prior to their wedding. The word mikvah means a pool of living water used for ritual purification. To this day, Jewish brides engage in a ritual immersion in water as part of the physical and spiritual preparation for their wedding ceremony. This ancient Jewish custom symbolized both a separation from one's old life as a single woman and the beginning of a new life as a married woman. It also symbolized a change in status and authority; a woman came out from under the authority of her father and came under the authority of her husband. Immersion in the mikvah is a ceremony that has profound spiritual significance for us. Water baptism (immersion) is the New Covenant equivalent of the mivah. Mark 16:16 tells us, "Whoever belives and is baptized [immersed, or experiences the mikvah] will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (emphasis added). When we, as believers, are immersed in water, we are to consider ourselves dead to our former way of living, no lnger under the authority of Satan. Upon coming outof the waters of baptism, we are to picture ourselves entering into a new life submitted to our Husband--Jesus (Rom. 6:3-11) 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 6:4 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. 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
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