Romans 6:1-11
ICE BREAKER
Each time we attend a wedding ceremony we observe a powerful tradition. The bride and groom exchange a ring. The ring is given after the vows are spoken. The ring is the sign of the covenant vows. The ring points us to the covenant.
LIke the wedding ring so baptism is God’s sign given to us as a covenant bond.
Paul, in Romans 6 uses baptism language to describe this covenant love from God.
Share with the group which part of baptisms’ symbolism means the most to you and share why that is so.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How can you use your baptism to fight sin and temptation this week?
Consider the following to help you think through your answer: Christ died on the cross– which is what I deserve– so He, as our substitute, atoned for ALL our sins. Atonement is the pleasing sacrifice of Christ on the cross.He was perfect. He never sinned. Jesus’ righteousness satisfied the wrath of God against our sin and rebellion. Because of His sacrifice our old identity is gone; we are now “in Christ”. We are a new creation.
Col 3:3 states, “We have died and our life is hidden with Christ…”. Our faith rests on Jesus Himself. We rest on His death, burial, and resurrection. This is the symbol contained in our baptism.
- Share some of your thoughts with the group regarding this question: How does baptism remind us of the once-for-all redeeming work of Jesus?
- If you have not asked Christ to be your Savior and you have questions for your small group about this decision please let the group know. They will be happy to answer any of your questions and will help you come to a greater understanding of your journey toward Christ.
- Romans 6:11 says, “So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
We will still sin even though we are dead to sin.Some of us struggle with a repeated sin pattern such as alcoholism, drug addiction, sex addiction, patterns of anger or lust of any kind.
The encouraging truth is that our sin is not our master. All sin we face has been dealt with through the resurrection of Christ. He arose and I arose in Him. This sets the foundation; this clears the path ahead and gives us hope in our battle with sin.
We must fully utilize the Word of God, and the Spirit of God, and the people of God in order to not get discouraged and lose hope altogether in our struggle against sin.
Share with the group any discouragement you may have in battling sin. Don’t be alone in your battle with sin. Let God’s people pray for you, fight for you and encourage you.
Group leaders, consider having a time to pray for each concern that was shared.
NOTES AND QUOTES
Christ is inviting us to open our hand toward Him. We receive with an open hand the gift of Jesus’ love and forgiveness.
His righteousness is given to us through faith and we are united with Christ forever.
It is clear that baptism is not what saves us. Rather, baptism is a symbol that points to Christ’s work of atonement for us on the cross.
God tells us that the wages of sin is death. Death was always required to atone for our sins.
Our baptism is a symbol of this death as we are buried with Christ in death. We consent to the watery grave.
We now walk in the newness of life in Christ.
Romans 6:4 makes it clear that we are raised with Christ. We rise out of the water.
Christ died and was resurrected. His resurrection declares that His sacrifice for our sin was satisfied.
Death no longer has dominion over us who are in Christ. The symbolism of baptism identifies us being buried with Christ and then raised with him to the newness of life.
Baptism is the everyday picture of the christian life. All the wrath of God has been poured out. We have nothing to fear.
