Baptized into His Death

Romans 6:3-7 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

‘Baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death’ baptism into Christ, not water (6:3-5; 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28-29; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:11-13). Baptism “into Christ” is essential to salvation – into Christ or into His body at repentance and the new birth. It is called “one baptism” (Ephes. 4:5), because it is the only baptism that saves the soul and brings into the body of Christ. The other two baptisms that is important and necessary for all Christians are: Baptism into water that is essential to obedience and to a “good conscience” after one is saved and in Christ (Matt. 28:19; 1 Pet. 3:21; 1 John 5:6-10); and baptism into the Holy Spirit that is essential to receiving power for service (Luke 24:49; John 14:12-17; Acts 1:4-8).

‘Buried with him by baptism’ – baptism is by burial, regardless of what kind of baptism it is.

‘That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life’ as Christ died completely, so those who profess Christianity must be completely separated and saved from sin having no more connection with it than a dead body has with the departed spirit (6:3-5; Jas. 2:26).

‘Glory of the Father’ glorious power. Just as it took the mighty power of God to raise Christ, it will take this to bring alive the dead soul of sinners and make them new creatures in a moment (2Cor. 5:17-18; Eph. 4:22-24).

‘Planted together in’ [Greek: sumphutos] planted together with; plainly proving a burial of His literal body and burial in baptism. No planting or burial is possible by a sprinkling or pouring (cp. John 12:24; 1Cor. 15:36).

‘Old man’ this is none other than satan himself, “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2; 4:22-24; Col. 3:9; John 8:44; 1Jn. 3:8; 5:18). To call this the old Adamic nature is erroneous, for nothing happened to Adam other than his submission to satan and a moral fall. Adam had the same body, soul, and spirit after the fall as before. The only difference was a change of masters. There is no such thing as an old nature other than man’s own body, soul, and spirit dominated by satanic powers, as in the above passages.

‘Crucified with him’ Being “dead to sin” (6:2), “crucified with him” (6:6), “dead with Christ” (6:8), “dead to the law” (7:4), and like expressions are common among Hebrews, Greeks, Latins, and other people. To die to a thing or person is to have nothing to do with and to be totally separated from it or him. To live to a person or a thing is to be wholly given up to and to have an intimate connection with that person or thing. Having the old man crucified means that one has no further dealings with him. In fact, 1John 5:18 says the wicked one does not touch the one who is born again. ‘Destroyed’ [Greek: katargeo] annulled. ‘Dead is freed from sin’ being dead to sin does not mean that the person or sin is dead. Both are still in existence the same as ever, but to each other, they are as being non-existent.