Romans Part 20
Through baptism, we are buried with Christ into death and raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. As a result, we should become a new person, ultimately transformed to be like Him.
Romans 5 ends with a statement that is often misunderstood:
"The law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more."
Some take this to mean that once a person comes "under grace," God no longer cares whether they obey Him. Paul immediately corrects that misunderstanding in chapter 6. We cannot isolate the last verses of chapter 5 from what follows. Romans 5 explains the righteous work of Jesus Christ to remove sin through faith. Romans 6 answers the next question: Now what? If Christ has removed our sins, how should we then live?
Paul begins with a question that leaves no room for misunderstanding:
"Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?"
His answer is immediate and emphatic:
"Certainly not!"
Those who have died to sin cannot continue living in it. Becoming a Christian does not mean continuing the same sinful lifestyle while assuming God's grace will overlook it. Instead, it marks the beginning of a completely different way of life. This naturally raises another question: what does Paul mean when he says we have "died to sin"?
Paul explains that baptism is the picture of sharing in Christ's death and resurrection. Jesus Himself referred to His coming death as a baptism (Luke 12:50), showing that baptism symbolizes far more than simply being dunked under water. Through baptism, we identify with Christ's death by putting our old, sinful self to death and burying it. This is why baptism is both necessary and deeply meaningful. It is not simply an emotional moment or an invitation to "let the Lord into your heart." It is a conscious covenant made by someone who understands what sin is, desires to leave it behind, and willingly commits his or her life to God. Because of this, baptism requires maturity and understanding. A person must know what sin is, and God's law is what defines sin. If we want to understand what God calls sin, we must read His law and meditate on it.
Paul also emphasizes that baptism is not only about the future resurrection at Christ's return. It marks the beginning of a new spiritual life here and now. The Greek word baptizo means "to immerse" or "to dip completely," even carrying the idea of cloth being fully immersed in dye. For that reason, baptism is practiced by complete immersion, symbolizing the complete burial of the old self. Sprinkling or partial washing does not convey the picture Paul describes of dying, being buried, and rising to walk in newness of life.
Being united with Christ in His life begins at baptism, not merely at the resurrection. Two essential ingredients are required before baptism: repentance and faith. Repentance means agreeing with God about sin, desiring to turn away from it, and striving to live according to His ways. Faith means believing God's promises, believing His judgment against sin, and trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Many people hesitate to be baptized for different reasons. Some have been taught that baptism is optional, but Scripture consistently presents it as a foundational part of entering God's covenant. Acts 2:38 and Hebrews 6:1-2 both identify baptism as a fundamental step in the Christian life. Baptism can be compared to marriage. Just as two people are not married simply because they love one another, our relationship with God is not meant to remain an undefined commitment. God has established a definite covenant ceremony. Baptism marks the clear beginning of that covenant relationship.
Others delay baptism because they feel they are not good enough. In reality, no one is good enough, and that is exactly Paul's point. Abraham himself was not justified because he had earned it through perfect works. No one can earn the right to become a son or daughter of God. Baptism is not about arriving at perfection before coming to God. It is about surrendering our lives to Him, placing our faith in Christ's sacrifice, and committing ourselves to walk in His ways.
Of course, Christians still struggle with sin after baptism, so what changes? God does something entirely new. He gives His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, empowering us to grow, overcome, and become more like Him. The Spirit helps us fulfill our sincere desire to obey God from the heart. Before baptism, we were slaves to sin, unable to break its power over us. We could modify our behavior, but we could not free ourselves from sin's bondage. After repentance, baptism, and the gift of God's Spirit, that slavery is broken. Our past sins are forgiven, we begin a new life with God, and we are no longer slaves to sin but servants of righteousness.
Epistles of Paul is a course taught at ABC by Mr. Steve Myers. Recordings from the 2023–2024 class year are available on the ABC website.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
