It must have been somewhere around 1998 or 1999. In a somewhat large church building in the middle of town the local denomination was holding their yearly Judgment House. 

If you haven't seen or heard of this practice, a Judgment House is the spiritual haunted house. Instead of monsters and serial killers, there is a car wreck or some other disaster that ends the life of a young teen (possibly younger) that had never "accepted Jesus into his heart". You walk though rooms filled with the events leading up to the horrible accident (in this case it was a wild high school party filled with as much alcohol as a rebellious teenager could ever imagine - the alcohol was just red SOLO cups filled with water), the back yard with crushed cars and screaming (the actual one in this article is pictured above), a mock hospital room wherein the parents are told of their young son's leaving this life, the funeral filled with crying teenagers and then, eventually, the group that you are in is brought into a beautiful white room smelling of baby powder and fake smoke (you're in Heaven awaiting the Judgment). There's a tall middle aged man standing in beautiful white robes and a line of those high school students that died in the crash you witnessed earlier. He tells the young lady that she has been accepted into Heaven and the angels come to great her. The next is told the same thing. And the next. But then he gets to the young man dressed in the black that you recognize from the pictures at the funeral scene. And...he is reminded of his infidelities and is banished from the presence of the tall man. Screams immediately begin. You come into a pitch black room filled with the most horrible screaming and ominous laughing you have ever heard (that's hell). It is here when a man who is obviously the "Youth Pastor" steps in front of the group and asks a simple question, "Do you want this to happen to you?" followed by instructions to those that do not to go to a special counseling room to speak with one of the volunteers. In that room, an eight or nine year old boy is told to pray a prayer to escape the coming Judgment that might happen at any time. 

That eight or nine year old boy, was me. And the prayer that I prayed at the help of the volunteer was the Sinner's Prayer.

But, thankfully, latter in life I was taught something so different, so unique that it intrigued me. And, after learning the Truth of God's Word, I was baptized for the remission of my sins. 

I said prayers before that, but none of them culminated in my salvation. Because the Sinner's Prayer is fundamentally flawed...

Read that verse again. 

Did you catch it? Paul told the Thessalonians that Jesus was coming back and in doing so would bring judgment on those who did not "obey the gospel of Jesus Christ"!

The Sinner's Prayer fails to teach people how to do this. Not only because it is found nowhere in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (How can a person be taught something from a source that mentions nothing about it? It's like learning about geometry from a book on how to eat an Oreo.) but also because there is no real sense of obedience within the Sinner's Prayer. 

It is just something you utter, like a magical spell, that forces God to give you salvation, instead of the Biblically defined acts which ask God for salvation through doing what He has commanded (cf. 1 Peter 3:21). 

In the Scriptures, we find the account of a woman plagued with blood problems reaching out to Jesus for healing (Luke 8:43-48). Her healing occurred because she touched Him and, in a somewhat similar fashion, we are to do the same. Remember, those that obey the Gospel will be those that are saved from wrath on the Day of Judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:8). 

But, what is the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" that we are to obey? - Paul said that it was the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). So the question is, "How can we obey something that Jesus already did? Are we supposed to be crucified, buried and rise from the dead? How in the world can we do THAT?"

That is where it gets remarkably simple (almost like God planned for it to be easily found and obeyed)!

We are crucified with Christ in understanding our sins, repenting of them and being obedient to His commands (Romans 6:1-3, Galatians 2:20). 

We are buried with Christ when we are immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins (Romans 6:4, Acts 22:16). 

We are risen from the grave with Him when we are raised from the water and begin our new life in Him (Romans 6:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 3:27). 

The Sinner's Prayer fails to show people how to access that Gospel. And in doing so, it fails to show people how to touch Him and His blood!

Finally, the Sinner's Prayer requires absolutely no lasting commitment to Christ. Think about it, in a matter of one hour and a (maybe) 30 second prayer, I was told that I was then saved having made no real commitment or learning anything about Him. 

People have been teaching the Sinner's Prayer for years, and the vast majority of those who have prayed that prayer never changed their lives, never darkened the door of a church building for worship, never taught anyone else. Why? Because they didn't know what they were doing? The prayer that they prayed was, and is, seen as a magical spell that fixed everything when in fact they didn't have time to count the cost and assess what they were doing. 

So, not only did the Sinner's Prayer not teach me a change of life, it didn't show me how to access Christ's blood and it definitely didn't teach me to obey any commands because it isn't a command. 

  In Romans 11:17-24, we find an interesting piece of scripture. In these verses, Paul is warning the Gentiles in Rome not to be arrogant or to think too much of themselves now that they have the gospel, and have gained salvation through Christ. Their warning was that they should not fall into the same trapped mindset that the Jews did concerning Christ. The Jews referenced in this passage had become arrogant in that they put their faith in their ability to keep the Law so well that they had forgotten about the importance of the Messiah (Romans 9:30-33). They had become arrogant in themselves, and their own abilities, and their own way of life by the Law that they had neglected to see Christ for who He was because they were blinded by their own selfish Perception of keeping the Law. What can we learn from these verses I wonder? I encourage you to turn to this short passage in your Bible, as we find out together. 

  In verses 17-21, Paul tells the Gentiles metaphorically that they shouldn't be arrogant towards the "branches" (The Jews) that have been cut off from the nourishing Root. They were broken off because of their unbelief in Christ (vs.20). Since they were broken off, it provided a means for everyone to be able to know Christ, and that the Gentiles would be able to be grafted in as part of the Root to be nourished by it. Even though these Jews were broken off, this was no reason for the Gentiles to behave arrogantly towards them because they have gained salvation, and these Jews have been cut off. That's the same sort of arrogance that had gotten these particular Jews cut off in the first place (Vs.21). Arrogance in the fact that they had the Law, and the Gentiles didn't; therefore, since they believed they were saved by their ability to keep the Law, and not by Christ, they thought they had salvation and the Gentiles did not. The warning here is to not fall into the same self-centered trap that had gotten these Jews cut off in the first place because their minds should be set on the nourishing Root instead of the dead branches. 

  These next verses encourage the Gentiles to take note of the kindness and severity of God. To first note His severity to those who have fallen, but His kindness to them should they choose to continue in that course. He then reminds them that the gospel is still for everyone, even for those Jews that had been cut off. If they were to choose to repent, and be obedient to The Lord, they would most certainly be accepted. If God was capable of grafting in the Gentiles who didn't naturally grow with the Root, He is more than capable of restoring the branches that naturally grow with the Root. It all came down to their decision to believe or disbelieve which would in turn result in a change of course or action on their behalf that would either align them with the will of God, or set them contrary to it. The focus should never be on the fact that they are lost, but rather that everyone is lost without their connection to the Root - Christ.

  Are we so different in our thinking sometimes? We have gained salvation, and we know the truth, but do we ever flaunt it arrogantly? Do we ever become caught up in taking too much pride in the fact that we have the gospel? How many times have we had a condescending thought about something not lining up exactly with God's word, or someone who doesn't yet know the truth in some matters? How many times have we considered the Biblical pattern of salvation, and then immediately stomp on and shoot down anything that resembles anything other than the truth?

  I'm not saying that we shouldn't be proud to know salvation in Christ, or that we shouldn't take a confident stand for the truth. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be bold with our efforts to take the gospel to a lost and dying world, but I am saying that we should check our motives and our attitudes lest we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Our focus should never be on the fact that other people are lost, but rather that EVERYONE is lost without Christ. The fact that people are lost without Christ is no haughty matter, but rather a heartbreaking one. Our encouragement now is to not be arrogant that we have the gospel, but that we should have hearts that break when we look at the tragedy of unbelief. To be ever thankful to God for His mercy, and ever loving towards those who do not know Christ, because aren't they the ones who need Him the most? 

     In writing his eloquent yet sometimes controversial account of the life of Jesus Christ aimed at instilling faith into the heart of the reader, the apostle John paints the picture of a woman who, while not inspired but crucial to the plan of redemption, essentially summed up the entirety of the Gospel of Christ in one sentence. Here's how this wonderful woman, who just so happens to be the mother of our Lord, unknowingly gave the most encompassing, concise, command in the entire New Testament - "Whatever He says to you, do it (John 2:5)." 

     Isn't that what we are trying to do? Isn't that exactly what Paul, Peter, James, Jude, John, Matthew, Luke and John-Mark spent twenty-seven books to instill in our minds? While all of those books were undoubtedly inspired by the only Divine Being in existence, Mary, as far as we know, did not possess the ability to audibly hear the Spirit instructing her in the ways of Christianity and yet she got the picture. She understood that whatever flowed from the mouth of her son, Jesus, would bless those that not only heard but obeyed (cf. James 1:22). She understood that the words of Jesus the Christ were so powerful that they would lead those servants to do great things, thus proving the deity of Christ and the power He possesses over the natural world. Did she know that Jesus was going to take those six waterpots and circumvent the normal process instantly changing their contents into grape juice? Probably not. What she did know was that whatever He said, though most likely sounding very strange to those listening, would be the way that He helped the situation. 

     Now, what does that have to do with us? Let's look to the following verses of the account of John and glean some very helpful things, especially in light of the initial acts of being placed into the body of Christ (i.e. Obeying the Gospel). 

The Importance of Obedience 
     Following His command to fill the waterpots with somewhere between 120-180 gallons of water, the servants did not simply fill them to a level which would normally be satisfactory but rather "filled them up to the brim (John 2:7)." When one asks for a glass of water, does he expect that glass to be filled to the point where the only thing holding the water inside the glass is the surface tension of the water? No, the norm is that the glass would be filled to a satisfactory level allowing room so that the water would not spill over the side. However, the obedient servants, on the foundation of an understanding of what Mary had just completed telling them, filled the pots to their brims.

     What does that have to say about our obedience when following the Plan of God to receive eternal salvation? Should we be willing to do "just enough" to get by? Absolutely not! But rather should be willing to hear the commands of Christ and, essentially, ask, "How high, Lord." 

The Immediateness of Obedience
     The next step in Jesus' miraculous conversion of the water to the nonintoxicating fruit of the grape was to command the servants to take some of the contents of those filled pots to the master of the feast for him to drink and realize what had been done. But, there was a time stamp placed on that command, "Draw some out now... (John 2:8)." How many times has a person known the need to obey and thought, "I want to do it this Sunday when the church is gathered" or "I would like to wait until..." and add some rather unimportant date that is special in the mind of the person needing the saving blood of Christ. I have even heard, "I will obey the Gospel when my grandfather passes away because he is a denominational preacher and it would just kill him to know that I left the denomination." While some of these excuses are somewhat understandable, they did not work for those at the wedding feast and they will not work for us either. 

     The importance of obedience leaves absolutely no room for there to be any wiggle room with regard to the immediate need of that obedience! We must follow the commands of Christ at the very moment that we understand and make the mental decision to do so! The fact of the matter is, we aren't sure of what will happen in the next few minutes, so why should we chance our eternal destiny on making sure that there are a large number of people there to see it happen or something else?

     It's just too important to wait!

     The Preacher's Favorite Passage, in an effort to branch out and provide more helpful tools for Christians and non-Christians in their studies of the Word of God, is beginning to release personal Bible studies to be used with the Keynote app on any iPhone, iPad or Macbook. To purchase this app, if you don't already have it, click here. 

     These Bible studies are intended to help Christians fortify their faith and give them a portable and accessible way to sit down and study God's word with those who they contact. With these studies being available on the iPhone and iPad smartphones and tablets, they will always be available at a moment's notice. 

     Thank you so much and we sincerely hope these tools will benefit yourself and the Kingdom of God!

      To download the file, please click the button below. 

     Like the name suggests, this hypothetical is arid and without any sustenance whatsoever. However, the argument against one's need to obey the Gospel because of that individual's living in a far away place without any feasible connection to the saving word of God (James 1:21) is often used and therefore needs to be addressed. It often goes something like this, "If a person lives in a desert or on an uninhabited island, is he still amenable to the Laws of Christ if he has no access to that law?" Well, as is the case with many false positions, this question can be answered with an understanding of just one of the over 31,000 verses given by the inspiration of the Almighty. That verse? 2 Thessalonians 1:8. 

     (1 Corinthians 1:21) - In contrast to Paul's speaking of the world's not knowing God by its own devices, he states that preaching is the way by which one is saved (obviously connecting it to the absence of knowledge of God being one of the factors leading to one's receiving the vengeance of Christ). Therefore showing that a knowledge of God through the preaching of the Gospel brings one into salvation from sins, understanding that it must be followed by obedience to what the individual hears. 
     (Galatians 4:8) - In writing to the Galatians and exhorting them to not follow after the new Gospels which were being pushed in their area, Paul shows a knowledge of God to that which leads the individual into a life in accordance with the Truth of Christ. 
     (1 Thessalonians 4:5) - Comparing the life of a Christian in sexual purity to the life of a non-Christian (i.e. Gentile) in sexual immorality and lust, Paul again points to the fact that a knowledge of God is an obedience to His standard of living. 
     (Titus 1:16) - In writing to his son in the faith, Titus, Paul speaks of those who, while professing this knowledge of the Divine, do nothing more than deny His very existence by following their own thoughts and passions. 
     (1 John 4:7-8) - Finally, the cousin of our Lord, John the apostle, speaks of love as a way by which one knows God. Since love is a command given to all of God's children (Hebrews 13:1, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8), it is again seen that obedience is knowledge. 

     Now, what do these passages and the hypothetical situation have to do with each other. If one's knowing God is a culmination of hearing the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:21), the compulsion to follow that Gospel (Galatians 4:8) and the actual carrying out of that compulsion through obedience to the ordinances of the Almighty (1 Thessalonians 4:5, Titus 1:16, 1 John 4:7-8) then the only way to escape the coming Judgment of vengeance is to do just that. But, the individual who never hears the Gospel does not have the ability to carry out the two other steps. Therefore, that individual, taking the Bible alone into consideration, will be lost in his sins. 

     This means two things... 

1. It is the individual's responsibility to search out spiritual truth! - If God can create the world, make Himself into flesh, carryout the incredible story of the Bible, create the magnificent church and come back to receive that church (John 14:1-4) then it is only reasonable to know that God can providentially help anyone searching to find the Truth. 
2. It is MY responsibility to take that person the Gospel! - Since I'm commanded, just as every Christian is, to take the Gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:15-16) then there should not be a person who has not had the opportunity to hear the Truth. Always remember, "When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand (Ezekiel 3:18)."

     Hearing produces faith (Romans 10:17). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Repentance, a decision made within the mind to change the direction of your life, is required for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Confessing with the mouth leads to salvation (Romans 10:10). And the culmination of all these actions occurs when one is baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3, 4). It is at this point that a person puts on Christ (Galatians 3:27). It is at this point that a person’s sins are washed away (Acts 22:16). It is at this point that a person is saved (Mark 16:16). It is at this point that a person has access to all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).
     Yet, after this point, it is still possible for a person to sin (1 John 1:8). Even so, it is possible for a person to so sin as to be lost eternally (1 John 5:16; 2 Peter 2:20-22). With this fact in mind, it is often the case that Christians find themselves “walking on eggshells” in fear of so sinning. Furthermore, they will sin,  and then become discouraged, begin to doubt their salvation, forgetting the power of the blood of Christ, and live in misery, wondering why such misery can be found in those that are to be most happy of all. Dear friends and brethren, such doubt should not be found in a Christian, for we have blessed assurance! There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1a). Will you consider with me the power preserved in this pithy passage?

     In the King James Version, the third word is a word found 1,236 other times in the same Bible, yet a word that cries out for further study at every mention. The word: therefore. What is therefore there for? Or for what is therefore there? Paul is concluding something. He has just been explaining the discouragement, heartache, and struggle that came with living under the old law (cf. Romans 7:5-25). Paul begins such a discussion with the phrase, for when we were in the flesh (Romans 7:5). Flesh was a symbolic term that Paul sometimes used to refer to the temporary old law (cf. Galatians 3:1-3). What was wrong with the old law, Paul? Nothing! The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12). It served exactly the purpose God intended for it (cf. Galatians 3:19-27). Then, what is the problem? With a paraphrase of Romans 7 and evident events in Paul’s life, consider what he might say:  Me!  I’m the problem; I have sinned! Let me explain. It’s the yearly Passover Feast. I have my beautiful young lamb. Many friends and family will be there.I take my lamb to the priest. I smell the burning flesh. I see blood all over the place. I tell him my sin, and just for a moment I hoped...I thought that maybe...but he said, “Remember, you’re still a sinner.”  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24).
     But now. There is therefore now. Can you try to picture Paul’s face as this was being written? I wonder if his eyes lit up with joy? Perhaps a smile came across his face and tears began to roll down his cheeks? Now. Paul was a man that knew what it was like to live under the old law and under the new law--the Gospel! Do we ever stop and thank God that we live now in  the course of time?

     The original word here translated condemnation literally means “down judgment”. When we think of heaven, we think “up”. When we think of hell, we think “down”. To be condemned would mean that at the judgment, one would be going “down” to hell.  
     However, we are talking about no condemnation. When a house is condemned, it is declared “unfit for use”.  There is no life in that house. Likewise, there is no life in a condemned person. But in Christ, there is no condemnation, and His life is in you (c.f. Romans 6:3, 4; Galatians 2:20). Consider the end of the chapter in which our text of focus is found: 
     Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).
     O, the blessed assurance of no condemnation!  Who can separate me from the love of Christ? Only I can separate myself from the love of Christ. The Apostle Paul knew this, for he said, I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27).

     The phrase in Christ occurs some 77 times in the New Testament. In the Lord can be found some 111 times throughout the Bible. The Bible gives definite importance to one being in Christ.
     What is so great about one being in Christ? It is in Christ that the fulfillment of prophecies and eternal plans are found (Ephesians 1:10). It was in Christ that God’s eternal purpose was accomplished (Ephesians 3:11).  It is in Christ that all spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3). Think about the blessing of approaching our Father in prayer.  Think about the blessing of forgiveness of sins. Think about the blessing of offering up spiritual sacrifices in spirit and truth on the first day of the week. Think about the blessing of walking in the light. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin...If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9).
     Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). If we are walking in the Light, it is the same as saying we are walking in Christ! Sometimes we do not realize how saved we are! God is not like human beings in that He is not watching our every move with intentions of catching us in a fault. He does not want to condemn us! He wants to save us (1 Tim. 2:4)!
     Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:4-8).
     These latter words are quoted from a man that was in prison when he wrote them.  They are quoted from a man that received 195 stripes from the Jews, had been stoned and left for dead, was beaten with rods on three occasions (no telling how many times they hit him), was shipwrecked on three different occasions (could you imagine being in the deep?).  No one could stop a man like Paul because he had blessed assurance.  It has been said that if you let Paul free, he would convert the world, if you put him in prison, he would write the Bible, and if you kill him, you will put him right where he wants to be--with Christ.  He said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
     “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.”  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1a).

Symbolism provides a gateway for better understanding the world. The Bible often uses this medium for illustration purposes. Beautiful images are created in the minds of man with each figurative tie thats made through writing. Paul, the author of much of the New Testament through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, uses this avenue of figurative language in describing our baptism into Christ and its relationship to the actual sacrifice of Christ in his writings to the brethren in Rome.
     The book of Romans deals heavily with the theme of justification. Paul introduces this subject by noting that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that that gospel is the power of God unto salvation for every individual (Rom. 1:16). Justification is the process by which God declares man innocent or guiltless. God justifies man through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul's writings are shown to be consistentwhenatthebeginningofhis second letter to the brethren in Thessalonica he notes that all individuals who do not know God and have not obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ will be punished with eternal destruction (2 The. 1:8,9). And yet, this was an encouraging message to the brethren there who were being persecuted vehemently. Paul wanted them to know that God is just and will not overlook the terrible things done to them.
     From the book of Romans and 2 Thessalonians we know that it is the gospel that makes man righteous and that it must be obeyed if one is to be in a right relationship with God. What is the Gospel and how can it be obeyed?
     Paul would write in his letter to the Corinthians that the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:3,4). Understanding that the word 'gospel' means literally the 'good news' or 'good message' one can see clearly just what Paul meant in describing the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.That death and resurrection was the good news for  mankind! It was for this purpose that Jesus came to earth! If the gospel is the good news concerning Jesus Christ and his death, burial and resurrection, then what did Paul mean when he said that those who do not obey the gospel would be punished by Jesus himself as was mentioned above (2 The. 1:8,9)?
     This question shows the importance of the statements made by Paul to the brethren at Rome. The main passage that is under consideration in this article is that of Romans 6:3,4. Knowing that Romans deals heavily with the theme of justification and that it is essential for one to 'obey the gospel' to be in a right relationship with him the aforementioned verse of Romans 6:3,4 is considered. 
     To better understand Romans chapter six, one must understand why Paul asks the question that he does in verse one. Verse one of chapter six is essentially asking what is their response supposed to be considering the aforementioned facts. These facts consist of the message found at the end of Romans chapter five;mainly that through one man came sin and deathinto the world, namely Adam. But, just as through this one man came sin and death there is also life through one man, that of Jesus Christ. Paul extends this thought even further by noting that the superiority of grace over sin is shown within this discussion. If Jesus has given man salvation through the grace of God and Adam brought sin into this world through his actions then grace is greater than sin. It overcomes the problem that man has with sin.
     With these thoughts in mind Paul asks the question, 'What shall we say then?'. What was the response of the Romans to these great truths set forth? The answer was shocking. To show what their response is Paul asks another question. He asks, 'Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?'. Some of the Roman Christians actually had the idea that if the power of grace was exemplified in its overcoming of sin then they should sin more so that grace was put forth in an even greater light. 

     All of this has brought the reader of the book to this one central point and the main focus of this article. Paul's answer to their ignorant line of thinking is essentially this: An individual that obeys the gospel cannot live a life of sin. Paul here will describe what it means to obey the gospel by showing the correlation between an individuals baptism and the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
     Verse 2: Can an individual sin to exemplify the grace of God? Paul answers with a resounding no. Some versions say, 'God forbid' here in verse two. The message to the Romans was simple: Sin is never permissible in the eyes of God. His follow up question clears this up even more when begins to explain why this is the case. He continues by asking, 'We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?'. Paul is inherently is insinuating that they should have understood this concept. Later in chapter six Paul will elaborate even more on this concept of being 'dead to sin'. From this verse the implication however is that they have died to the practice of sin at one point. They no longer supposed to be living a life identified by ungodliness. If they had died to sin, then how could they live any longer in that state?
     Verse 3: Explaining his answer even further he looks to a special event in the life of a Christian. In verse three he asks if they are ignorant concerning their own baptism. These questions are rhetorical in that Paul thought that they should already know the answer. In this Paul affirms that all individuals that have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his death. There is a special tie here that should not be missed. An individual dies to sin when they become a Christian. When? The connection is made when they are baptized. This thought will be strengthened when Paul comments further on the concept of baptism and Christ. 
     Verse 4: In the process of baptism a further connecting point is made. Not only was their baptism connected to the death of Christ but Paul adds that all they who had been baptized were also buried with Christ. It should be noted that this is further evidence of what baptism meant to the disciples of Jesus Christ. They were actually buried in water just as Christ was buried in his tomb. Baptism was not a sprinkling, pouring, or act of the mind.
     Another thing of some importance is the simple observation concerning death and burials. Namely, that the only people that are buried are those thathavedied.Thisperfectlytiesinto the previous verse in that a person dies to sin and is baptized into Christ's death when they are actually baptized. Paul perfects these comments on their response to sin and grace by making the connection between baptism and the resurrection. Paul and the individuals he is writing to were all baptized. In this baptism they had symbolized Christ's death and burial. Bringing all of this together Paul states that all of them were in like manner raised with Christ as a new creature just as he was raised from the dead after his crucifixion. Paul will elaborate more on this idea in the verses to follow. 

     When an individual is baptized into Jesus Christ they symbolize and declare the death, burial and resurrection of  Jesus Christ. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are the centerpiece to the gospel itself as we noted in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul is thus describing the proper obedience to the death, burial and resurrection of our Master. Jesus expects us to die to sin in baptism, be buried with Him in our baptism where we essentially contact the blood of Christ, and be raised to live a new life being a new creature before God. In Jesus' death we find his blood shed. We access that redeeming blood that frees from our sin (Rev. 1:5) when we are baptized. 
     Baptism is not an option if one wants to be obedient to God. Paul told the Thessalonians that all those that did not show obedience to the gospel or good newsofGod'sSonwouldbepunishedby His Son. Baptism is the centerpiece then of the new life that is found in Christ. As a side note to this issue one must also recognize that it is in baptism that ones sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38) and that it is in Christ Jesus that all spiritual blessings are found (Eph. 1:3). Within these verses considered one sees that it is through their baptism that they are put into Christ and thus have access to those spiritual blessings.
     In our world that promotes skepticism and uncertainty we must all take comfort in witnessing the simple message of Christ with our own eyes as we examine the sacred test. If you are reading this article and have not been baptized into Christ then you need to do whatever it takes to ensure that that takes place. Brethren, may we always remember the great sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord and Master.