Dead to Sin, Alive to God-3

Rom. 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Don’t you realize that water represented the grave? Don’t you realize that as you were put in the water it was the burial of the old life? You were buried with Christ in the water of baptism.

Know ye not,...

ἀγνοέω

agnoeō

ag-no-eh'-o

From the first (as a negative particle) and to exercise the mind; not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication to ignore (through disinclination): - (be) ignorant (-ly), not know, not understand, unknown.

that...

ὅτι

hoti

hot'-ee

Neuter of which some, that is, any that; also as conjugation; demonstrative that (sometimes redundant); causatively because: - as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.

so many of us as...

ὅσος

hosos

hos'-os

By reduplication from who, which, what, that; as (much, great, long, etc.) as: - all (that), as (long, many, much) (as), how great (many, much), [in-] asmuch as, so many as, that (ever), the more, those things, what (great, -soever), wheresoever, where with soever, which, X while, who (-soever).

Baptism into Christ, not water (Rom. 6:3-5; 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28-29; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:11-13).

were baptized...

βαπτίζω

baptizō

bap-tid'-zo

From a derivative of to whelm, that is, cover wholly with a fluid; to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptist, baptize, wash.

into...

εἰς

eis

ice

A primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases.: - [abundant-] ly, against, among, as, at, [back-] ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for [intent, purpose], fore, + forth, in (among, at unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-) on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore (-unto), throughout, till, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-) until (-to), . . . ward, [where-] fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively.

Jesus...

Ἰησοῦς

Iēsous

ee-ay-sooce'

Of Hebrew origin [Jehovah-saved]; Jesus (that is, Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites: - Jesus.

Christ...

Χριστός

Christos

khris-tos'

From to smear or rub with oil; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.

were baptized... see above.

into... see above.

His (Jesus)...

αὑτοῦ

hautou

how-too'

Contraction for him; self (in some oblique case or reflexive relation): - her (own), (of) him (-self), his (own), of it, thee, their (own), them (-selves), they.

death?...

θάνατος

thanatos

than'-at-os

From be dead, die; (properly an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively): - X deadly, (be . . .) death.

The question here is whether Paul had in mind Spirit baptism (1Cor. 12:13) or water baptism. Some object to taking Rom. 6:3 as Spirit baptism because that verse speaks of being “baptized into Christ” whereas 1Cor. 12:13 speaks of Spirit baptism placing the believer into Christ’s body. Of course, both are true: the believer is “baptized” (placed into) Christ and also into the body of Christ, and both are done by the Holy Spirit.

Others take Rom. 6:3 to refer to water baptism, but the problem with that is that it seems to suggest that baptism saves. However, the New Testament consistently denies baptismal regeneration, presenting water baptism as a public attestation to an accomplished spiritual work (cf., e.g., Acts 10:44-48; 16:29-33). The spiritual reality Paul spoke of is that by faith believers are “baptized (placed) into Christ” and thereby are united and identified with Him. This spiritual reality is then graphically witnessed to and pictured by believers’ baptism in water. The one baptism (by water) is the visible picture of the spiritual truth of the other baptism (identification with Christ; cf. Gal. 3:27, “baptized into Christ… clothed with Christ”).