Thursday, April 16
Daily Devotions on Romans 6
Day 1: Romans 6:1-4
For the next three days, we are going to take a journey through Romans 6 where the Apostle Paul teaches about how we participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through Baptism, and what it means for our lives. Today, we will focus on verses 1-4.
6
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
2
By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
3
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
At the end of Romans 5, Paul talks about how Adam’s disobedience led to death through sin, judgment, and condemnation for all people (5:12, 16, 18). The Law came along and only made things worse. It posted clearly worded trespassing signs, that when violated, added sin upon sin. But no matter how high sins are piled, God’s grace in Jesus Christ through his obedience on the cross overcomes all that Adam, sin, death, and the Law brought into the world (5:20–21).
If this is so, why not sin all we want? (6:1). After all, this would show just how gracious God truly is. However, Paul emphatically rejects such a notion because the fundamental identity of the believer would not permit such reasoning. The reason it would not is that the believer’s identity rests upon being baptized into Christ Jesus (6:2-4).
In Baptism something amazing happens! How it happens is a mystery, but God’s Word tells us that when a person is baptized into Christ Jesus, they die to sin because they are buried with Christ as they go under the waters (6:2–3); then they are raised up with Christ through the glory of the Father so that they might live a new life instead of a life filled with sin (6:4).
If you have been baptized, then this is who you are. This is your true identity. Why? Because the power of God’s Word—that same power of glory which raised Christ himself—accomplishes what he says in Baptism. You are who God says that you are.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus Christ, thank you that I have been united into your death and resurrection through Baptism. Thank you for giving me a new life and a new identity that is dead to sin. Help me not to take your grace for granted, but to live a life that reflects my new identity in you. Amen
