Our Baptism Connects us to Christ based on Romans 6:1-11

I. Do anything we feel like doing? Some people say that they can do anything they like, because God will forgive them on Sunday morning. Some people say that the laws of God no longer apply to Christians, because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all that matters. Some people in the among the Roman Christians in the time of St. Paul were saying that continuing to live in sin was a good thing so that God’s grace may abound. Just imagine what we could do if our sins did not matter to us. Go rob a bank, no problem. Go steal that new car or pickup truck, no harm. Go tell a relative or friend what you really think about him or her, no big deal. If our sins do not matter to anyone, then the sky is the limit and we are free to do anything we feel like, anytime we feel like.

II. Read Romans 6:2-4 and comment about sins. St. Paul answers people then and now who think that way: “By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:2-4).

For the Christian sin is always a bad idea. Stealing from others and brutally telling people what we don’t like about them is a bad idea. Breaking any of the 10 Commandments is a bad idea. Having false gods that we trust more than the one, true God is sinful. Failing to love those around us is a sin. When we sin, bad things are coming our way sooner or later. When we do whatever our old self wishes, we are asking for trouble. Sin separates us from God.

III. We desperately need Jesus and baptism. That is why we all desperately need Jesus. In our baptism we have died to sin. In our baptism we have been baptized into the death of Christ Jesus. In our baptism we were buried with Jesus. The grace or undeserved love of God given to us in our baptism enables us to turn our back on sin and to walk a new way with a new life. Yes, God’s Holy Spirit working through baptism saves us from our sins. What a great gift from God we have in our baptism.

IV. Remember Jesus’ baptism for us. Today we remember another baptism. Today we remember the baptism of Jesus our Lord. Jesus, the only One who never sinned once and did not have any sins that needed forgiveness, was baptized for us. To fulfill the promises of God in the Old Testament Jesus was baptized for us. To live under the Law of God Jesus was baptized for us. To start out His earthly ministry of love and mercy Jesus was baptized for us. The baptism of Jesus shows us how serious He was about perfectly keeping the Law of God that we have failed to keep day after day. The baptism of Jesus shows us that He was a humble servant. In the baptism of Jesus we see the Holy Trinity revealed to us. God’s Son, Jesus, was baptized in the Jordan River. God the Holy Spirit came down from heaven in the form of a dove and landed on Jesus right after His baptism. God the Father spoke from heaven and told those who were there that Jesus was His beloved Son.

V. Read Romans 6:5-11 and comment about new life connected with Christ. St. Paul continues: “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:5-11).

What does this new life connected with Christ Jesus look like? The new life in Christ Jesus means turning away from sinful thoughts, words, and deeds with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. The new life in Christ Jesus means trusting God for full and complete forgiveness in the name of Christ Jesus. The new life in Christ Jesus is very down to earth. Praying to the Lord for those in special need. Allowing someone to walk across Main Street in front of you instead of speeding by that person. Sending a card of encouragement or sympathy to someone who is going through a tough time. Calling someone to let him or her know that you are thinking about him or her. Giving some of your money to support the church or support a missionary or help those who are recovering from a flood, earthquake, or other disaster. Trying different ways to love those around you as you love yourself. Those are a few suggestions for living the new life in Christ Jesus. Each one of you can think of many more ideas about living the new life in Christ Jesus.

VI. We are buried and raised with Christ in our baptism. We are set free from our sins thanks to the death and resurrection to new life of Jesus that we are baptized into. We can each day consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. We can resist the temptations around us, since we are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. When the evil one seems to be giving us an especially tough time, we can pray for God to help us remember that we are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. We are baptized brothers and sisters connected by faith to Christ Jesus. He helps us daily to remember our baptism by drowning the old self and allowing the new self in Christ Jesus to rise and live the new life. Amen.