In the first nine verses of Romans 6, Paul takes pains to lay a foundation defining what we know. In verse 3 he says that we know we have been baptized into Christ. We are not casual followers or hangers-on. We are not just acquainted with him. We have taken steps that placed us IN HIM. Baptism was not a nice little ceremony: It was a profound judicial action.
We define baptism as a outward and visible expression of an inward and invisible grace. It takes place in the spirit of the believer and in our church with the preacher, but it also takes place before God in spiritual realms that are invisible to us. By God's decree, we are placed in Christ.
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3, NIV)
Verse 3 makes it clear that we enter into the life of Christ at the point of his death. Knowing that is the foundation of our life in him. Our life is a life of resurrection.
Paul says it again: For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. (Roman 6:6, NIV) It may take a long time to rid ourselves of the habits and evidence of sin, but by God's decree it has been accomplished in the spiritual realm.
In verse 9 Paul emphasizes that as Jesus lives by the Spirit, we also follow him in a spiritual life. Death no longer has any dominion over him. We will indeed die in the body, but the Spirit has already secured us in Christ for eternal life. We KNOW these things, and our faith rests of knowing his truth.
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3, NIV)
Verse 3 makes it clear that we enter into the life of Christ at the point of his death. Knowing that is the foundation of our life in him. Our life is a life of resurrection.
Paul says it again: For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. (Roman 6:6, NIV) It may take a long time to rid ourselves of the habits and evidence of sin, but by God's decree it has been accomplished in the spiritual realm.
In verse 9 Paul emphasizes that as Jesus lives by the Spirit, we also follow him in a spiritual life. Death no longer has any dominion over him. We will indeed die in the body, but the Spirit has already secured us in Christ for eternal life. We KNOW these things, and our faith rests of knowing his truth.
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