Romans 6:3-4
Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
These verses lead me to think of baptism as something very much symbolic, and not at all defined by details of how, when and where. Paul is describing a decision to believe in all Jesus taught, and to believe in all Jesus was and is. Really, that decision to believe, and to live a life as free from sin as we are able to make it, to follow Jesus in all we do, "baptizes" us as Christians. This is different from the baptism of our babies, or the work of John the Baptist.
Holy Lord, I am baptized to follow you. As a small child I was baptized into the family of God by my parents and their pastor. As an adult, I try to live up to a more active relationship with you. Help me to understand this process more clearly, in order to live more fully as a disciple of Christ Jesus. Amen
Becky, transforming
Romans 6:3-4
After reading several versions of these verses I finally understand more clearly why other denominations choose total immersion as the method of baptism. Being under the water, like in death, and then being raised up, as with Jesus, is really what these verses are explaining. This baptism ritual makes so much more sense to me now.
Prayer: Gracious God, Thank you for expanding my understanding of this ritual. These verses are a beautiful illustration of a true baptism. Amen
Baptism
Romans 6:3-4
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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 .
The act of baptism will be a reminder for life of the fact that we have died (and continue to die daily) to slavery and sin. We have been born new in Christ. A new believer in Christ needs a spiritual family, a family of the faith in Jesus. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and we need each other…