Romans 6:3-6
6:3 a Baptism is the rite of initiation into the Christian faith (see Acts 2:38 b, 41 c). It sometimes symbolizes the entire conversion experience, so Paul refers to baptism as the means through which believers are joined to Christ in his death and resurrection (see also Rom 6:4 d). However, baptism has no value apart from faith.6:4 e we died and were buried with Christ: The believer’s power over sin and the ability to lead a new life stem from identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (see 6:5 f, 8 g). From God’s perspective, Jesus’ death to sin (see 6:10 h) is ours as well. His rising to new life means that we also begin to lead a new life, and in the future our bodies will also be raised.
6:6 i our old sinful selves: Our “old selves” are not a nature that we possess or just one part of who we are; it reflects who we were in Adam. All human beings were born “in Adam.” As heirs of the sin and death that he introduced into the world (5:12 j), we were slaves to the power of sin. But as people who are now in Christ, we have gone through crucifixion with him (see also Gal 2:20 k). When he died on the cross, we also died to the dominating power of sin that ruled in our former selves.
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