Romans Chapter 6 Vs. 3

 

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Rom 6:3

baptized into Jesus... Baptism into Christ, not water (Rom. 6:3-5; 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28-29; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:11-13).

This isn’t referring to water baptism, but is a metaphorical why of saying of someone who was immersed in his work, or underwent his baptism of fire when experiencing trouble.

Christians have, by placing saving faith in Him, been spiritually immersed into the person of Christ. That is, united and identified with Him.

Paul explained in more detail the spiritual basis for his abrupt declaration, “We died to sin” (Rom. 6:2). Whether the Roman Christians knew it or not, the fact is that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. The question here is whether Paul had in mind Spirit baptism (1Cor. 12:13) or water baptism. Some object to taking Rom. 6:3 as Spirit baptism because that verse speaks of being “baptized into Christ” whereas 1Cor. 12:13 speaks of Spirit baptism placing the believer into Christ’s body. Of course, both are true: the believer is “baptized” (placed into) Christ and also into the body of Christ, and both are done by the Holy Spirit.

Others take Rom. 6:3 to refer to water baptism, but the problem with that is that it seems to suggest that baptism saves. However, the New Testament consistently denies baptismal regeneration, presenting water baptism as a public attestation to an accomplished spiritual work (cf., e.g., Acts 10:44-48; 16:29-33). The spiritual reality Paul spoke of is that by faith believers are “baptized (placed) into Christ” and thereby are united and identified with Him. This spiritual reality is then graphically witnessed to and pictured by believers’ baptism in water. The one baptism (by water) is the visible picture of the spiritual truth of the other baptism (identification with Christ; cf. Gal. 3:27, “baptized into Christ… clothed with Christ”).