Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 6:3 Or are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? |
Bible Question:
What does it mean that we are baptized into His death? I think I understand but I am not sure. |
Bible Answer: I believe Paul, in this concept of "baptized unto His death", is closely explaining the participation we have by faith in the singular accomplishment of Christ. As later on in the same section (Rom 6:10,11) He "... died unto sin once..." then we should "reckon yourselves dead unto sin..." I believe that there is a transformation within, from the faith given you by God, in the public submission and proclamation of your association with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, i.e. the water baptism. Yet previously, faith and salvation came from God in that "moment you first believed", and that faith began to grow. Part of this growth is the experiential process as Paul states, of considering yourself dead to sin, and walking in that. This reckoning comes from a transformed mind, in which sin has no value, a mind not in 'bondage' to sin. So we may be baptized in water, as a fruit of our faith, yet the reality is one of lifelong transformation. The death, burial, and resurrection of those natural parts of your soul, such as the mind in the case of this reckoning stated above. What I mean is can you, only once, by one symbolic act, for all the rest of your life, decide to be dead to sin, and walk in that with a perfect mind? We know our hearts, and how much transformation is needed, and I believe Paul perceives that here in the body to which he directs this message. He is speaking the word that becomes reality, when we exercise our faith towards that. Compare carefully the precept revealed in 2 Corinthians 5:14,15, where "... one died for all, therefor all died;" With that, there is a continuation, He died so that we may live unto Him. In fact, a main theme of the whole chapter could be about being baptized unto His death. And the transformation is there as well, in verse 17 where the old things have passed away, and and now are revealed as new. I believe this happens in progressively for us, daily, hourly, with a spirit inside yearning for the complete state. Dying daily in Him, with love to you |