Word of life - Rom 6:3

Word of life: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”

(Rom 6:3ESV /English Standard Version 2001/)

Studying this verse from God’s Word, let us focus on two principal questions:

1)      Which truth (word) is emphasized in this verse?

2)      What connection does it have with other verses of this chapter?

1) What is emphasized in this verse? The words “baptized” and “His death”. We have to know that we have been baptized into the death of Jesus Christ. Baptism, in biblical terms, means to receive a new nature (habitus). The Scripture speaks of a baptism into Christ’s death, a baptism of repentance, a baptism of the Holy Spirit, a baptism with fire.

What happens in the spiritual power of Christ’s death?

a) In His death the power of sin, our old self and the devil is destroyed. Jesus said: “It is finished!” Total victory over the power of darkness was completed.

b) In His death the spirit attains perfect spiritual communion with the Heavenly Father: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!”

2) The connection with other verses: Gal 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” This truth is repeated in both the Christmas and Easter liturgy, that we may become aware of our unity with Christ through baptism.

Rom 6:4 – This verse also emphasizes baptism and death, and verses 5, 7, 8, 9 and 11 likewise. (cf. 2Cor 4:10; 2Cor 1:9; Rom 8:36)

Practical application

In prayer, we perceive the cross of Christ as light breaking through darkness. The death of Christ is the narrow way which alone can lead us safely through the darkness of demonic powers and sin into the Father’s arms. At least for one minute in prayer we should live the reality of our surrender to the Father in Jesus’ death. We should realize our own death too. In Jesus’ death the first commandment is fulfilled – to love God with all one’s heart, with all one’s soul and with all one’s strength. In His death also is encompassed the reality of losing one’s soul. We are to lose our soul – that means, we are to lose its content – our worries, our interests... I abandon them at the present moment. My spirit is free. My old self is crucified with Christ (Rom 6:6). The spirit is free from the infection of sin and can surrender itself wholly to God. And this is the essence of the baptism into the death of Christ. We have been immersed by baptism in His death and we are to actualize its power through the obedience of faith.