Romans 6:1-4
What is written? (ESV)
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 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.
What does it say?
What’s the conclusion then? We should never continue in sin just so that God’s grace will be magnified. We can’t continue to live in sin after dying to it. It was our baptism into Christ Jesus that united us in His death. Our baptism was a death burial together with Him so that just as He was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, we too might walk in newness of life.
What is its immediate context?
Paul is making the broader point of the richness and fullness of God’s grace toward sinful man (chap 5) before turning to man’s response (and responsibility) for salvation. Through the beginning verses of chapter 6, Paul correlates Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection to the Christian’s “death, burial, and resurrection” to a new [spiritual] life.
How Romans 6:1-4 is applied across Bible answers
How are we saved by grace only?
Grace requires a response to turn from sin, walking in (e.g. living out) a "newness of life". Dying to sin is being buried "with Him" in baptism (e.g. being born of God2).
Is baptism required for salvation?
In his conclusion, Paul makes the direct connection to baptism and Christ's death. In other words, nobody shares in Christ's death except through baptism.
He further states the benefits of "dying with Christ" as:
- being united with him in resurrection (vs 5)
- no longer being enslaved to sin (vs 6); being "free from sin" (vs 7)
- living or alive with him (vs 8)
Do we conclude from Paul's argument that these benefits are received without being baptized? Of course not!
Top 4: Results of baptism?
In his conclusion, Paul makes the direct connection to baptism and Christ's death. In other words, nobody shares in Christ's death except through baptism. He further states the benefits of "dying with Christ" as:
- being united with him in resurrection (vs 5)
- no longer being enslaved to sin (vs 6); being "free from sin" (vs 7)
- living or alive with him (vs 8)
Top 5: Images for baptism?
To be baptized is to be buried with Christ, dying to sin and its lifestyle.
What is the first resurrection (Revelation 2:5-6)?
Baptism is what puts someone "into His death." We are then raised (from the burial of baptism) into "newness of life."
What is the purpose of baptism?
In his conclusion, Paul makes a direct connection between baptism and Christ's death. In other words, nobody shares in Christ's death except through baptism. He further states the benefits of "dying with Christ" as:
- being united with him in His resurrection (vs 5)
- no longer being enslaved to sin (vs 6); being "free from sin" (vs 7)
- living or alive with him (vs 8)
What is water baptism?
Paul's metaphor - comparing all who are baptised into Christ being baptized into his death - is consistent with submersion (and doesn't work with sprinkling).
When is someone a member of the church?
Paul's rhetorical question confirms that everyone in the Roman church - a local gathering of the universal church - had been baptized into Christ.
