What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. (Romans 6:1-9, NKJV)

Baptism is a command by God necessary for mankind to be saved. Many men, at the behest of Satan, have tried to get around this simple command, and accuse those who teach baptism in the Biblical way of trying to “work their way to heaven.” We fervently deny this charge, for we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). But the faith that Paul talks about is the Biblical faith that trusts God at His word, and obeys His commands for the reason God has ordained.

One of the greatest passages that talks about baptism is found in Romans 6. Notice what he says about baptism in this place.

1. When we become Christians, we are not given a license to sin, but to die to sin!

2. When we were baptized into Christ, we were baptized into the death of Jesus Christ. We know that it was at Jesus’ death that he shed his blood (John 19:34); we also know that we are saved by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18–19). It is Paul in Romans who ties all of this together by emphasizing that when we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into Jesus’ death! This is how God appropriates the blood that forgives—through baptism. This is also the reason why God attaches forgiveness to baptism.

3. Baptism is a burial—it is not sprinkling, or pouring.

4. Baptism likens the life of a believer as one who has died, been buried, and raised again. We are not raised to live the same kind of life—we are raised to walk in newness of life. The old man of sin is crucified—put to death! We have been buried in water, where the old man is left. Finally, we are raised to walk in newness of life.

5. When we are baptized into the death of Christ, then we also have been united in Christ. Thus, we are united in the life of Christ!

6. Finally, when we have been baptized into Christ, we are no longer slaves of sin! Christ has broken the power of sin in our lives and allows us to live for Him!

Baptism is one of the greatest commands God has given, and we need to understand all we can about it! Further, we need to make it plain to those we teach that baptism is commanded by God and necessary for salvation. This is God’s way—not man’s! And we do not have the right to change it for any reason! May we always practice and do what God says!