What's the Connection Between Jesus' Death and Our Baptism?
Thinking about Romans 6:3.
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (Romans 6:3)
The Christian has died to sin.
Paul answers the argument that the gospel of Christ encourages sinful behavior by showing how absurd that accusation was - Christians do not have a “free license” to sin but have died to sin!
Starting in Romans 6:3, Paul brings baptism into the discussion about how a Christian has died to sin.
What Does the Word “Baptize” Mean?
The Greek word for “baptize,” (baptizo), was originally a term used to describe what happened to ships during naval engagements. In their reports, commanders described certain of their ships as having been “baptized.” By this, they did not mean that their ships had water sprinkled or poured on the decks. What they meant was that the ships had been sunk or immersed beneath the water. This is also the essential meaning of the word baptizo in the New Testament period. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 201
In Mounce’s Greek-English Dictionary, the meaning of baptize is “to dip, immerse.”
When the New Testament writers used the word “baptize” or some form of it, they meant a complete immersion under the water. Not sprinkling a few drops, not pouring a pitcher of water over someone, but a burial under the water.
Understanding baptism as a burial matters a great deal in connection to Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5).
Baptism’s Role in Conversion.
There was no such thing as unbaptized Christians in the early church. To contend, as some do, that baptism is simply metaphorical or symbolic, or that it is baptism in the Spirit rather than water baptism, is to misread Paul’s writings. It is also not baptismal regeneration, the belief that the act of baptism is all that matters and is performed separate and apart from faith and the cross. New Testament baptism was an immersion for penitent believers, intimately tied to faith. It was part of the conversion process, but not the only part. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 201
To downplay baptism as optional or unnecessary is to go to one extreme for which there is no biblical support. However, to go to the opposite extreme that makes baptism the sole act that matters above all else is also an unbiblical point of view.
Here are a few passages that say something about baptism.
Jesus said baptism is included in the “disciple-making” process (Matthew 28:18-20).
Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
Peter connected repentance and baptism to the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
Paul connected baptism into Christ with putting on Christ (Galatians 3:27).
Peter also connected baptism through the resurrection of Jesus Christ to salvation (1 Peter 3:21).
These few passages hopefully teach us more about baptism’s role in conversion. It does matter and is an essential part of becoming a Christian. However, it’s not the only thing that matters in conversion.
The Connection Between Being Baptized into Christ and Being Dead to Sin.
Paul makes the point those the Christians in Rome who had been baptized into Christ could no longer “continue in sin” (Romans 6:1-2).
Why? Because they had been baptized into the death of Christ.
[The death of Christ] was a death caused by sin at the hands of sinners! It was a death that was intended to atone for sin! It was a once-for-all death to sin! And if we entered into union with such a death could we continue to live in sin? That would be a moral contradiction.
The logic of [Paul’s] teaching would be a hatred of that which slew the Master; a longing to have that sin covered and appeased for and a decisive severance from sin. If a person enters into union with Christ he endorses all that Christ endorses and repudiates all that Christ rejects. - McGuiggan, Romans, 187
The gospel of Christ does not promote ungodly, sinful behavior by Christians. It teaches the opposite.
Sin is the reason Jesus suffered and died. Those who have been baptized into His death ought to remember the very thing that made His death necessary.
Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)
The gospel of Christ promotes more sinning? “Certainly not!”
Even the act of baptism speaks to the fact that Christians have been baptized into the death of Christ and died to sin. A proper understanding of the gospel leads to a proper understanding of sin and builds a desire to live a holy life (1 Peter 1:13-16).