Romans 6. Baptism

1.    Review Romans 6:1–13 and answer the following questions in writing: 

v  What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

We must put sin away and repent before we can be baptized.

v  What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

Christ’s resurrection is symbolized in baptism.  The action of being buried in the water symbolizes his death.  The action of being lifted out of the water, clean from sin, is a representation of Christ being resurrected, to die no more.

v  Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?

It is the immersion in the water that symbolizes our sins being washed away.  It is our old self, our sinful self, which is crucified as we are buried in the water.  As we come up out of the water, we rise as new beings.  Alive in the spirit of Christ, being washed clean from our sinful life before.  A sprinkling would not be enough because there is only a small part of our body that is “washed.”  Symbolically, there would always be some part of our sinful self leftover because the entire body of sin was not washed away.

v  What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

These verses teach us that we should never let sin or physical lusts take over our physical bodies.  We need “…to be dead indeed unto sin…” (Rom. 6:11).  We are to be “…instruments of righteousness unto God” (Rom. 6:13).  The “newness of life” that is talked about in verse 4 is maintained by obedience and righteous living.  By living our lives as Christ would.

v  According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

Ideally, it is the “natural man” that would die at baptism.  Goodness.  As I sit here and think about that, my heart is overwhelmed with the image.  What if this did actually happen?  What if the natural man part of us literally died when we get baptized?  I can’t even accurately imagine what our wards would be like, let alone what the world would be like.  All I know, is that this world would be a beautiful place to live if the natural man actually died when we got baptized. 

2.    Study Romans 6:14–23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

We know who servants we are based on our actions and who we obey.  Are we slaves to sin and carnal lusts?  Or are we servants of righteousness?  Do our actions lead to goodness, light, and life?  Or do they lead to misery, addictions, and, ultimately, death?  “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” (Rom. 6:16)? 

True freedom comes from our Father in Heaven and none else.  When we obey His laws, we are made free from sin and the consequences thereof.  We do not become slave to addiction or vices that would otherwise destroy us.  Our bodies are kept free from harmful substances and we are stronger, more physically capable, and clean.