Romans chapter 6 unpacks Paul's teaching on sanctification. Now that I am saved, now I am a Christian, how should I live? Can I live as a please? Can I as a Christian do whatever I want? Does God have a purpose for my life? Can I continue in sin that grace may much more abound? Romans teaches that a life which receives salvation is a life changed by Christ. Salvation comes by relationship and that with a living Saviour! Our water baptism demonstrates this truth. In baptism by immersion we are dead, buried and raised again in Jesus! The Christian life is lived out in the sanctuary of Romans chapter 8, like that of David, at the altar of Romans chapter 12 like that of Abraham and in the congregation of Romans chapters 14 to 16 like that of Moses. Like the lepers of old, God takes our broken and dead lives and transforms them and changes them not for our glory but for His! He brings Miriam's flesh alive from the dead, Naaman the leper through the waters of baptism and the leper of Luke chapter 17 to the pinnacle of glorifying Jesus.

As you Live how You Please How Pleased are you How you Live? Baptism and New Life - Romans chapter 6 verse 4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." God has taken so much from us as Christians; our condemnation, our sin, our guilt, our separation, our isolation, our hopelessness and our despair. Instead of languishing outside of Eden alone, separated from God and unable to hear His voice, Jesus has taken the judgement, condemnation, died for sin and died to sin for us. In exchange for death, despair and damnation God has given to us new life in Christ. The Christian's new life is one of service, by the Spirit of God, bringing forth fruit to God, for His Glory. As we live our lives as we please, aim high and dig deep. Seek for His abiding joy, the joy of His presence, the joy of His salvation, the joy of His word, the joy of hope in Jesus Christ. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie New Cumnock Church Gospel Hall

The meaning and issues of baptism have significance and consequences forever. Our baptism by immersion into water symbolise our death to sin with Jesus, our burial and resurrection into new life in Jesus Christ. The qualification for baptism rests in the truth that baptism was first Christ's. As Christians we follow Jesus through those waters. This was first His baptism into death, burial and resurrection. We reference the practice of the Anabaptists, baptism by immersion, reference the error of baptismal regeneration and we see how our baptism declares our commitment to live for Jesus in newness of life. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie 

New Cumnock