Are we buried with Christ by water baptism or by God's determination?
Believers are buried with Christ not by water baptism but by God’s own determination. God saw every believer on the cross and in the tomb in the person of Christ, reckoning them crucified, buried, and raised with Him to new life. It is a God thing, accomplished by His power.
Les explains that baptism here is not into a denomination or church but into Jesus Christ. If a person has been placed in Christ, they were first identified with His death. Les says God saw every one of us on the cross in the person of Christ; Christ died in our place, and believers can say with Galatians 2, “I have been crucified with Christ.” Just as God saw us on the cross, He saw us in the tomb, so we are buried with Him. This burial is not by water but by God determining that, since He paid the sin debt for all and for those who believe and appropriate it, He declares, “You’re dead, crucified, buried with Him in His death and tomb.” Believers are also resurrected with Him to new life, totally different people by the power of His resurrection. It is a God thing, accomplished by His omnipotence, power, omniscience, and ability to work in the invisible realm.
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.
What happened after we were buried with Christ—did we stay in the tomb?
No, we did not remain in the tomb. When Christ was buried, we were buried with Him in the mind of God, but we did not stay there any more than He did. We were resurrected out and given new life, eternal life, to live forever in His presence.
Did God also see us buried with Christ in the tomb?
Yes, God saw every believer buried with Christ in the tomb. Just as He saw us crucified on the cross in the person of Christ, He also saw us in the tomb, buried with Him. This is not by water but by God's own determination, identifying us with Christ's death and burial.
What results from being resurrected with Christ?
Being resurrected with Christ results in a new life, and believers become totally different people through the power of His resurrection. This is a God thing: by His omnipotence and ability to work in the invisible realm, God has placed us in Christ, crucified, buried, and raised.
More Questions
What does it mean that we were buried and raised with Christ?
Believers know that when Christ died He died for us, when He was buried we were buried with Him, and when He arose we also were resurrected to a newness of life.
What is the baptism into death in Romans 6:4?
The baptism in Romans 6:4 happened in the mind of God: when Christ was buried, believers were buried with Him and God saw them in the tomb.