Dead to Sin, Alive to God

Scripture: Romans 6:1-4 (ESV)

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Devotion:

            Paul, in these scripture verses dives into the deep waters of the theology of salvation. Let us dive with him being unafraid of anything we find there. Paul’s words here were not meant to intimidate anyone. Quite the contrary they are meant for our encouragement in living out our daily lives. Paul begins his journey into the deep end looking into the waters of baptism.

            Since I am a Presbyterian and was baptized while still a newborn, I have no memories of my baptism except one picture taken at church during my baptism. The Pastor was holding me over the font as my Grandfather and my parents look on. It is a pleasant family memory even if I cannot remember it directly.

            Paul engages with the Roman church over the issue of baptism. Some in Rome, and indeed some today, insist that we should go on sinning so that grace may abound more. Paul repudiates that view. He insists that baptism is a symbol of a cleansing from our former lives of sin and death. Why would one try to wallow in the mire of sin and wickedness that one lived in prior to baptism? There is no reason.

            Instead of wallowing in the mire of sin and dissipation we are called to newness of life promised us in the gospel. Since we were baptized into Christ’s death, so we must live as people set free from sin and its corruption. Our lives are to quote Paul from Philippians 3:17(NIV), “¹⁷ Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”

            We are to follow Godly examples wherever we can find them and imitate them. We are to do this so that we may receive training in righteousness. Next to the word of God in the Bible our next most important teacher in the Christian way of life are those Godly people that (If we have been so blest.) that have been put into our lives.

            Let us go before the throne of grace and ask God to send us out as shining examples of the Christian life.

Prayer:

            Father in heaven, we thank you for our baptisms. We are thankful for those who brought us to the fountain of new life. Let us spread the good news sealed in us by our baptism that we are children of God, followers of Jesus Christ, and instruments in the hands of the Holy Spirit living new lives in the world. Thank you, Father, that we may live contrary to the death dealing ways of our culture we may always walk as children of light in the midst of this darkness. Amen.