What does it mean to be planted in the likeness of Christ's death?
To be planted in the likeness of Christ's death means the believer is placed into His death as a seed is placed in the ground. That planting carries the certainty of resurrection: just as planted wheat comes up wheat, so being planted in His death's likeness guarantees being raised in His resurrection's likeness and power.
Les explains that Romans 6:5 follows Paul's statement that if we have been planted in the likeness of Christ's death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. He notes that sowing and planting are basically the same: when you sow you plant, and when you plant you sow. In 1 Corinthians Paul says we have been sown in corruption, but in Romans 6 he says we have been planted. The illustration is a seed placed in the ground. Just as two kernels of wheat planted side by side both come up wheat, being planted in the likeness of His resurrection means we will be resurrected in His likeness. Planted together, we come up in resurrection power together. Les stresses that this never means we become God; rather, we become the very manifestation of His resurrection power.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
More Questions
How can we be sure we will be resurrected in Christ's likeness?
Just as two kernels of wheat planted side by side both come up the same and are wheat, so those planted in the likeness of His resurrection will be resurrected in His likeness — the outcome is as certain as the seed producing its own kind.