Overcomer7
Member
- Oct 12, 2024
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Rom 6:3-7 Know ye 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.
Baptism symbolizes the burial and resurrection of Christ. Baptism is a watery grave. We do not go into the water to die. Only the dead are buried. In baptism we symbolically bury the old man of sin. Why does Paul call him the old man? Because he is dead. When did he die? He died when he was crucified. The old man was crucified with Christ. When we repented and believed the gospel, the old man was crucified. That is when we become free from sin. Verse 7 tells us 'For he that is dead is freed from sin.' It is improper to bury that which is alive. Baptism truly makes sense when we realize that we are saved from sin and that the old man is crucified. You can now bury him. If the person is not regenerated before baptism, that person ought not to be baptized for we would be burying someone alive and kicking.
The regenerated person is alive spiritually. The old man of sin is dead and can and needs to be buried. Paul in Rom 6:11 says this of the regenerated person, 'Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' The old man is crucified with Christ but he is not done away with. Baptism does not get rid of the old man. The tug of war mentioned in Romans 7 continues. We have to be ever watchful for the old man of sin is still present making war with the new man. Baptism is but a symbol even as the Lord's Supper. We do not think that we are eating the literal body of Christ (even though Christ said, 'Take, eat; this is my body'). We also should not think that baptism literally washes away sin or the strange doctrine that we contact the blood of Christ in baptism.
Baptism symbolizes the burial and resurrection of Christ. Baptism is a watery grave. We do not go into the water to die. Only the dead are buried. In baptism we symbolically bury the old man of sin. Why does Paul call him the old man? Because he is dead. When did he die? He died when he was crucified. The old man was crucified with Christ. When we repented and believed the gospel, the old man was crucified. That is when we become free from sin. Verse 7 tells us 'For he that is dead is freed from sin.' It is improper to bury that which is alive. Baptism truly makes sense when we realize that we are saved from sin and that the old man is crucified. You can now bury him. If the person is not regenerated before baptism, that person ought not to be baptized for we would be burying someone alive and kicking.
The regenerated person is alive spiritually. The old man of sin is dead and can and needs to be buried. Paul in Rom 6:11 says this of the regenerated person, 'Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' The old man is crucified with Christ but he is not done away with. Baptism does not get rid of the old man. The tug of war mentioned in Romans 7 continues. We have to be ever watchful for the old man of sin is still present making war with the new man. Baptism is but a symbol even as the Lord's Supper. We do not think that we are eating the literal body of Christ (even though Christ said, 'Take, eat; this is my body'). We also should not think that baptism literally washes away sin or the strange doctrine that we contact the blood of Christ in baptism.