Posted by
Ron on Friday, July 07, 2006 2:28:42 AM
I'm in the process of teaching on the book of Roman's and came across
this on baptism and Roman's chapter 6. This is very thought provoking,
and merits further study.
Nearly every
human being with a taste for mischief explores what Paul says in Romans
5. If sin’s forgiveness magnifies grace, why not just sin? Paul’s
answer might surprise some of us.
The answer
to this mischievous exploration is baptism. Yes, that’s right. Romans
6:1-4 sets it out: “Should we continue in sin in order that grace may
abound?” “Never!,” Paul says. Why? Because we’ve been baptized.
Once
again: Law increases sin; sin is “hyper-increased” by grace. Therefore,
the more sin the more grace. That is mischievous moral logic. Why?
Because of baptism.
Baptism, according to Paul, is dying in
Jesus’ death and rising in Jesus’ resurrection. Baptism is our
incorporation into Jesus, it is participation in Jesus’ own
recapitulation.
Baptism ushers a person into Christ. Baptism
is a picture of both death and resurrection. So, the power for a life
“beyond sin” is the elimination of death by dying with Christ and the
acquisition of life by rising with Christ.
Now, for those of us
who grew up in that very-low church tradition where baptism meant
nothing — even though it was made sure that everyone got dunked, this
message shocks a bit. Does Paul really believe that baptism ushers us
into Christ? Clearly. No other way to read Romans 6:1-4. Does this mean
“baptism saves”? Now we’re asking questions as Paul’s opponents ask. Of
course not. Christ saves. And we enter into Christ by undergoing
baptism because we have come to trust in Christ.
Link.