Being immersed in the water signifies our death and burial with Christ


Romans 6

Once we receive Christ as our Saviour and Lord, it means that we have turned our back on sin.

This is what the true grace of God that comes to us through Jesus helps us to do, vs 1,2. And this is what water baptism signifies too, vs 3.

Being immersed in the water signifies our death and burial with Christ, in order that just as Jesus was raised from the dead so also we have newness of life, which is what our rising up from the waters of baptism implies, vs 4.

For only those who die to sin with Him are the ones who will be raised to life with Him too, vs 5-8. As long as we take our position of being dead to sin and raised up with Christ, sin can no longer have mastery over us.

This is what Christ’s resurrection signifies, vs 9-11, and we must take our place there with Him too, both in being dead to sin and alive in Him too.

For when we do this, we will not keep presenting the members of our body as instruments to be used to commit sin, but instead as members unto righteousness, vs 12.

This is what the true grace of God accomplishes for us, which cannot be accomplished by being under the law, 13-15. We must remember that we will be slaves of those whom we obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience to God’s Word, resulting in righteousness, vs 16. For, through the grace that has come to us through Christ Jesus our Lord, though we were once slaves to sin, now we have chosen to become obedient from our hearts to God, and therefore, we are freed from sin and slaves of righteousness, leading to our sanctification, whose end is eternal life, vs 17-22.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, vs 23. So, although eternal life is a free gift of God, yet we can receive this gift only after we agree to die to sin, and are therefore subsequently raised up with Christ.

Although, taking water baptism is not essential for the salvation of our past sins, Mark 16:16, yet it is essential to be taken by those who want to walk in newness of life and so live a life of victory over sin after being born again.

In any case, those whose attitude towards sin has not changed can never claim to be born again, much less imagine themselves to be disciples of Jesus Christ!

For Jesus Christ primarily came to save us from our sins, Matthew 1:21, so that we could walk in fellowship with God once again and be partakers of His peace, joy and righteousness in the Holy Spirit, which is the what the Kingdom of God is all about, Romans 14:17!

As we examine our lives, may we find this to be true about ourselves. Amen

Rowena Thomas
Mumbai, India.