Believer's Baptism (Romans 6:1-4)

“(v.1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (v.2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  (v.3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (v.4) 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.” (Romans 6:1-4)

Baptism is identification with Christ, a profession of Christ, an obligation towards Christ.  Baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  Basically, it is through the work of Christ that we are saved – thus no man is justified by observing an ordinance.  In fact, we aren’t even saved because of our very own profession, rather, we are saved because the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for us and rose from the grave triumphant over sin, death, Hell, the world, flesh and Satan.  In essence, we are saved because of His work.  We are simply recipients of His mercy and righteousness.

Our baptism identifies us with both the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  Ironically, our baptism is really about Him, and not about us.  Our baptism is a profession in that it proclaims to the world that we are His followers.  Baptism is also an obligation to live for Christ.  Because He gave us new life, we walk in newness of life. 

When believers are baptized, it should remind us of our Lord.  The act of immersion signifies that He died and rose for us.  And so, in baptism, when the believer is placed into the water, it represents The Lord’s death, and it also represents the believer’s death to the old way of life.  The same holds true for the resurrection.  When the believer is brought up from under the water, this represents the resurrection of the Lord, and the resurrection of the believer to walk in newness of life.

When believers are baptized, it should also remind us of our baptism – that we ourselves are in fact baptized.  That we too have pledged our allegiance to Christ, we are His followers and that we desire His will for our lives, not ours.  We must live for Him, and we do.  Believer's Baptism helps to remind us of this truth.