The final stage of immersion-baptism, coming up out of the water, reminds us that as Jesus was raised from the dead, we too have been given a new life to live.
God's message about Jesus is, "Death is cancelled, life reigns!" The resurrection of Jesus Christ was unique and dramatic, and all the more so because He could never die again (unlike others whose bod
Christ has died. And all those who trust Him, claim His death as the final punishment for their sin. Therefore, Paul argues, how can we respond to the call of sin any more?
Paul repeats his question of Romans 6:1: 'If God's grace cancels the punishment of our sin, shall we continue to sin?' This time the answer, "By no means!" is based on the principle of redemption.
The good news of the gospel includes this: in Christ we do not have to submit to the tyranny of sin any more ... we are no longer slaves to wickedness.
Although some Christians like to pretend that they are perpetually godly and always do what is right, it is not true. We are weak in our natural selves.
Bad habits are difficult to shake off. Until our conversion, our sinful nature was constantly creating and reinforcing patterns of behaviour which offend God.
