Romans 6:3-4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Baptism is a decision of identifying with Jesus through his death and resurrection. We make the confession of faith that we have crucified the old life controlled by sin. We have a new master who guides and controls our life. We have put our whole life into his hands. Baptism is more than an outward action. It opens us to receive God’s grace in ways that bring change, assurance, and guidance to us. Paul forms this into a question because he assumes the Romans have been taught this and just needed a reminder of the deeper significance of it and how it can change their lives. The type of change Paul is writing about here is what happens in sanctification. There is an important link between baptism and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Paul is writing here about the decisive decision to die to the old way of life that should come with entire sanctification. Baptism marks that decision. It is a decision that opens to a new life controlled not by sin or the flesh but by the Spirit. This is the open door to the Spirit-filled life Paul writes about in ch. 8. coming out of the water of baptism represents the new life that results when Jesus is in control and sovereign. The same power of resurrection that raised Jesus is the same power that can work in our lives if we come in submission and trust. We do not need to struggle with our old ways because there is a resource that will help us. These verses are some of the most significant in the Bible about the hope we have in Jesus. All the resources of heaven are available to us but we must receive them and trust in them. After the decision is a growth process.
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