Buried and Raised: What Baptism Pictures
Baptism is a visible sermon. It points backward to what Christ did and forward to the believer's call to walk in newness of life.
- Study Romans 6 and Colossians 2 together.
- See death, burial, and resurrection in the picture.
- Distinguish the picture from the saving reality accomplished by Christ.
- Connect baptism with a new walk of discipleship.
Baptism pictures burial with Christ
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:4 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.
Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Paul uses the language of death, burial, resurrection, and likeness. Baptism publicly identifies the believer with the gospel events at the heart of Christian faith.
Colossians gives the same burial-and-resurrection picture
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Romans and Colossians reinforce one another. Baptism points to burial with Christ and rising with Him. The power is God's power; the water is the commanded picture.
Baptism points toward newness of life
Romans 6:4 does not end at the water. It says even so we also should walk in newness of life. Baptism is an excellent place for a believer to mark a clear beginning in discipleship: “Christ saved me, I belong to Him, and I want to walk according to His Word.”
That does not mean the believer becomes sinless after baptism. It means the believer has a clear direction: follow Christ.
Compare Scripture with Scripture
Scripture trail: Romans 6:3 • Romans 6:4 • Romans 6:5 • Colossians 2:12 • Romans 6:3, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:5, Colossians 2:12 • Matthew 28:19-20 • Acts 8:36-39 • Acts 10:43-48
Do not rush past the references. Open them, read the surrounding verses, and make the Bible carry the weight of the conclusion.
Think it through
- What happens before water baptism in the passages, and what happens after it?
- What does baptism picture or publicly identify without making the water the cause of salvation?
- How would you explain both truths strongly: baptism matters greatly, and baptism does not purchase eternal life?
Teach it back
Without looking at the lesson explanation, summarize Buried and Raised: What Baptism Pictures in two or three sentences and support your explanation from Scripture. If you cannot explain it simply yet, return to the passages and work through them again.
Slow down and work the text
Reopen Romans 6:3, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:5, Colossians 2:12. Read enough before and after each verse to see the setting. Do not settle for remembering a slogan when you can inspect the wording for yourself.
- Write the main claim of Buried and Raised: What Baptism Pictures in one sentence.
- Underline or write down the exact words in the passages that support that claim.
- Compare at least two of the passages. What truth becomes clearer when they are read together?
- Ask what could be misunderstood if one phrase were isolated from its context.
- Explain where baptism belongs in relation to salvation and why obedience matters after a person believes.
- Where does belief occur in relation to baptism?
- What does the passage teach baptism means or pictures?
- What should a believer do because Christ commanded baptism?
Baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and calls the believer to walk openly in newness of life.
Baptism Is a Great Work of Obedience
18 min