Baptism - Romans 6

We are sinful beings. Christ was crucified and resurrected for all mankind, so we may be forgiven of our sins. Baptism is the ordinance we perform in order to be cleansed from our sins. But before we are baptized, we must first forsake our sins, and let our carnal, sin-prone selves die. Our spirits must be “dead to sin” so that we may be “alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Baptism by immersion is a symbolic ordinance. Paul explains that when we are lowered into the water, being fully immersed beneath it, we are symbolically buried with Christ “by baptism into death.” In other words, our sins, and the natural, fallen man within us (Mosiah 3:19), are laid to rest along with Christ’s life. We are then raised up out of the water “like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father” so we may “walk in a newness of life.” Our sins are thus removed from our ledgers, and we are given a new life to live, a life of righteousness and purity.

This symbolism is essential to the completion of this ordinance. Baptism by sprinkling isn’t enough to cleanse our bodies and spirits from our sins. Our sins will not die and our lives will not be renewed unless we partake in this complete ordinance, immersion and all.

When we receive our new lives, we must perceive ourselves to be “alive unto God.” We are alive because of Christ’s atonement, so we must forever repay our debt to Him. Baptism doesn’t end at the conclusion of the ordinance, but we must honor it for the rest of our lives. Paul gives specific instructions to those who have been baptized when he says, “let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” We must remain in control of our mortal bodies, and not allow ourselves to descend into sin. We have been raised up above that through baptism, and if we live for God and seek to do His will, we will remain raised up forever and ever.

When we seek to do Heavenly Father’s will, we must become His servants. Paul continues his teachings by saying, “know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Those we obey are those we serve. If we want to yield ourselves unto God and become he servants, we must obey Him and perform works of righteousness in His name. Baptism frees us from sin, and transforms us into “servants of righteousness,” as long as we keep ourselves free from sin.

Sin binds us and keeps us from progression. Paul taught that the only fruit of sin is death. But the fruit of righteousness and obedience to the commandments of God is “everlasting life.” Servitude to our Heavenly Father is not necessarily enslavement, therefore, but a newness of life that leads to eternal progression and happiness.