Paul and Baptism
Romans 6:1-14
Romans 6:1–14 (NIV): 6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Paul gives conditions on what we are baptized into:
- Sacrifice, even when it’s hard.
- Do what is right, even when it’s hard.
- Do what God is calling you to, even when it’s hard.
- Work with people and forgive, even when it’s hard.
- Let God be in full control, even when it’s hard.
However, it’s easier when we get encouragement and help, and we are doing well when we are interacting this way as a community of believers, but even this is not enough. We need God’s help to be able to experience the fullness of what Jesus brought, gave, and sent when we appoint Him as our LORD and Savior.
Acts 19:1–7 (NIV): 19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
Interesting thought. A large group gathered. Out of this large group, only 12 received the Holy Spirit. If you continue to read, this upsets those who did not receive the Holy Spirit and arguments and fights break out. Why do you think this happened? It split the church, Paul was run out of town, and people started invoking the name of Jesus without the presence or the approval of Jesus (Seven sons of Sceva).