We're looking tonight at the Biblical significance of baptism from Romans 6. You'll remember we discovered last time certain developments that should accompany baptism with water. What were they? laying on of hands, baptism by the spirit/reception of the Spirit, gifts manifested, ministry, and discipling. Tonight we want to know why these things are associated with water baptism.

Romans 6 is in the context of Romans 5, and we must be crystal clear about some parts of Romans five before we move into Romans 6, so turn to Romans 5 with me, please.

Review:

Romans 5:9,10 Transition before looking at whole chapter. 2 of most profound in rom. He confronts us w/ something we don't think about.

much more than what? than having been reconciled? How could you have more?

What would the avg believer say about this? Saved by death.

He starts w/ this in the beginning of bk.

a. justified through blood	Much	b. saved from wrath through Him

a. reconciled thru death	More	b. saved by life!

What radical conclusion can be drawn?

the reconciling happens outside of us, now what about sanct? contrast a w/ b.

What is it possible for us to be and yet not be? just and not saved?

Salvation is assoc w/ which aspect? life sanct. Salvation is not assoc w/ death. That's only reconciliation. How many are counted righteous because of His death? All

If you're hearing that you should be praising God. This is a present reality.

But are reconciliation and justification salvation? No. So even though all are justified through His death, not all are saved. What is it that saves us? His life? How do we get His life? That's our question for today.

Rom 6 describes the process

moving on to ch. 6

Shall we continue in sin that grace might increase? What does this imply? --God has more grace to give. He's already given all He can! May it never be. How shall we who died to sin still live in it. What is he actually saying? few people hear this. The unavoidable conclusion is that our death to sin occurred at the cross!

many xians would like to think their death to sin occurs as they struggle with sin, but our death to sin occurs at the cross--daily as we enter into belief. The struggle is not to win over sin, but when tempted to look to the cross and see how much he has loved me, again!

see progression:

continue in sin? how can we who died? don't know you about baptism

What is the biblical significance of baptism? verse 3-6

Be sure you hear verse three!

Being baptized into His death.

burial	resurrection
baptized into His death

we have been buried with Him	baptized into His life!

as Christ was raised from dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life
Accepting His death as mine
Never again expecting the second death, because I've already experienced it in Him
if united in likeness of death	certainly also in res
old self crucified w/ Him in order that our body of sin might be done away with so we'd no longer be slaves to sin

What am I declaring at baptism? His death is mine. I'm joining Him in His death. I am accepting His death as mine!

What about rebaptism? Only reason is if one didn't receive HS?

Why is it absolutely essential to receive the HS? It is the great evidence that Jesus is alive!

When God annoints one for min at baptism, what happens? Become a priest. You are committing yourself to living His life, a life of service. If most people knew what they were getting into they'd die!!!

6:6 Our old self was crucified with Him, not crucified when they struggled against sin.

6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin. When you see consider what realm is Paul moving us into? Faith, not feeling.

What is the basis for considering yourself to be dead to sin! 6:6 "Our old self was crucified with Him." God accepted His death as mine.

Are you sitting here by faith? If you are, then you should be able to handle his practical counsel. He's spent 1-5 and half of six to tell us what we already have in Christ!!!!

He actually gets into a few verses on how to deal w/ temptation 6:11-18

Faith step1-6:10	practical 6:11-18
consider yourself to be dead to sin and alive to God	1. Consider yourselves to be dead to sin and alive to God

2. Do not let sin reign in your body so that you obey its lusts

3. present yourselves as instruments of righteousness.

Make an outline of the steps in overcoming temptation

We began in verse 11 why?

If you don't believe you are dead to sin, you see yourself as a weak sinner, and you will become what you see.

The issue is, how are you seeing yourself?

1. believe and claim promise of what you are in Christ! dead to sin and alive to Christ on the basis of the death and res of Christ, not my feelings or growth!

2. Don't let sin reign! (Paul doesn't pull any punches!) The prevailing philosophy is God understands and he'll always forgive me. That's 7th day catholicism. People have no expectation of getting past the same old sins. There's no hope from God of ever getting over it.

3. You now have the choice, under your new master to do right, and you can't expect to stay in belief while still surrendering your body's members to unrighteousness.

What does it mean to be under grace? Sin is not your master!! Under grace means not to be mastered by sin. the only way to be free not to sin is by God's grace. and conversely if you are under law it means you are a slave to sin.

v. 16 To whom you yield yourself, (choice of will) you are a slave. two choices. sin and obedience resulting either in death or righteousness. coming home by dance hall story

What is Paul doing to you?