Subject: Was it complete? |
Bible Note: Hello brother Tim, Personally, I just can't get around Romans 6, especially when it’s filtered through other selected verses. “Rom 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? (what of those who haven't been immersed into his death?) Rom 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Rom 6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, …” “buried with him into death…” as you said in one of your notes, “I really don't understand why this concept is so hard to grasp!” Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Paul had not yet passed through physical death when these words were written. Is the crucifixion of which he speaks merely in his mind? Is Paul’s crucifixion a matter of mere belief? There is an immense and awesome change at work in these verses. It’s kinda’ like one saying, “I used to be Tim, but now Napoleon has taken over my life.” Like much of the New Testament, it’s either right on the money or it’s insanity (ya gotta love Festus!). I think Paul is teaching that he was crucified with Christ at Paul’s baptism. He was immersed into Christ’s death, his faith made it real and his faith was made real with action. (James 2:19 “Even the demons believe…”) After his baptism, but before his death, Christ answered James’ and John’s presumptuous request this way, "‘You don't know what you are asking,’" Jesus said. "’Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?’" (Mk 10:38) Jesus was not talking about his immersion at the Jordan in John’s hands. The thorns and nails were not a matter of getting wet or of mere belief. I think He was talking about His suffering and death, the very same death Paul speaks of in Romans and Galatians. Was Christ’s death on the cross a ‘work’ as so many like to call baptism? Is death a work? Paul says he “was crucified with Christ!” Was Paul doing a ‘work’ when he was united with Christ in his death? “I really don't understand why this concept is so hard to grasp!” |