Baptism: He Died and Lives So We Could Die and Live

April 25, 2018

Baptism: He Died and Lives So We Could Die and Live

Romans 6:3–4

Sarah Walker

Central Truth

We were dead in sin, but Christ died and rose to eternal life by the power of the Father so that we who trust in Christ could also rise from the dead and have eternal life. We cannot walk in "newness of life" with Christ until we die to that which He died for.

3 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.

Verses 3 and 4 have been spoken over millions of people as they were dunked into water, outwardly expressing their inner faith in Christ. Paul's rhetorical question in verse 3 emphasizes both the good news of this truth as well as our tendency to forget it or misunderstand it. He is saying in effect, "Don't you know that identifying with Christ in baptism means also identifying with Christ in His death?"

He invites us to consider our old selves dead so that we can have the new life that only He can offer. Now, that's obviously not a physical death we're talking about here but a figurative one. Being "baptized into His [Jesus's] death" means we, as a part of the Body of Christ, die to our sin. We hate our sin. We no longer desire to live a life of sin. It's not that we aren't tempted to sin or that we never fall, but rather we have the God-given desire and ability to "walk in newness of life"—to make choices that glorify God rather than ourselves.

When this raising from the dead happens, we desire to change and are able to change. This raising is "by the glory of the Father" alone. Christ died for us and overcame the power of sin for us so that we could live with Him abundantly here on earth and perfectly in eternity forever.

Identifying with Christ in baptism that brings new life means we also identify with His death. We cannot have one without the other. This does NOT mean that you can't have "newness of life" without being dunked into a pool. God does not require water baptism for our salvation. However, salvation is baptism of the Holy Spirit, and baptism by water is an act of obedience to the One who saves. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus—not by any of our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Isn't this good news? There is much more here that won't fit in one devotional, so dig in, friends. Drink deeply from God's Word!

This month's memory verse

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

– Romans 5:3–5

1. Did you know before reading this that water baptism is an outward symbol of an inward faith? It is an act of obedience after salvation and not a means of—or precursor to—salvation?

2. Have you trusted in Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of your sins and begun to experience new life? If not, what holds you back?

3. Are you experiencing the full freedom and newness of life that Christ won for you? Are you dying to your sin daily as you joyfully remember Christ's saving work for you?

4. Are you a follower of Christ who has yet to publicly identify with Christ's saving work in your life by being baptized? If so, find out how to do this at Watermark by visiting www.watermark.org/baptism or email us at baptism@watermark.org.