Romans 6:1-4

Read Romans 6:1-4

Helpful Background Information: 

• When we talk about the life and ministry of Jesus, relatively little attention is typically given to his burial. As has been shown throughout the devotionals this week, however, the burial of Jesus was seen as a necessary part of his redemptive work in the eyes of the biblical authors. One place where the burial of Jesus is portrayed as especially significant is Paul’s letter to the Romans. 

• In chapter 6, Paul reminds the Christians living in Rome that choosing to follow Jesus means leaving their old Adam-like humanity behind (5:12-21). Although the reign of Jesus Christ is characterized by grace, believers are not to continue sinning carelessly, since they’ve died to sin (6:1-2). This becomes true as soon as a person is united with Christ by faith. One symbol for that union is baptism (6:3). 

• In baptism, Paul says a believer is “buried with him… into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life” (6:4). To put it more simply, Paul says, “If we have been united with [Jesus] in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection” (6:5). In other words, when a person trusts in Jesus, their life is joined to his, and what’s true of him becomes true of them. In order for us to have hope beyond burial, it was necessary for Jesus to be buried before he was raised.

Reflection Questions: 

• “When a person trusts in Jesus… what’s true of him becomes true of them.” If you agree with that statement, how does it impact your hope and confidence?

• Paul says that we, as believers, were buried with Jesus in baptism. When you think about baptism going forward, what might it look like to appreciate it as a symbol for burial and resurrection?

• Based on all that you’ve gathered from these devotionals, in your own words, how would you explain the significance of Jesus’ burial?