Being 'planted' pictures the death we must experience with Christ before we can share in His resurrection life.
Just as a seed must be buried and die before it sprouts new life, so we must be planted in the likeness of Christ's death. Because the old Adam has been crucified, we are placed in the tomb with Christ, and out of that death comes new spiritual life, resurrection power, and growth in grace.
Romans 6:5 — This verse explicitly uses the word 'planted' and connects being planted in the likeness of Christ's death with being raised in the likeness of His resurrection.
John 12:24 — Jesus uses the corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying to show that death must come before abundant fruit, which is the same picture Paul uses for spiritual life.
Romans 6:5 declares, "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." The language of planting draws on the imagery of a seed placed in the ground: it is buried in death, yet it rises to new life. John 12:24 uses the same picture: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." The Bible's teaching is that death comes before fruitfulness — a seed left alone cannot reproduce, but a seed that dies produces much fruit.
Les Feldick draws out the spiritual meaning of being 'planted' from Romans 6 and John 12. He explains that being planted means being buried with Christ. The old Adam was crucified on the cross in the mind of God; if we have been planted in the likeness of His death, we will be raised in the likeness of His resurrection. Out of that death comes new spiritual life: the Holy Spirit regenerates the dead spirit, fellowship is restored, the old sin nature becomes a new divine nature, and the believer begins to grow in grace and knowledge. Les also emphasizes that while we are planted together with Christ and come up in resurrection power, we never become God — we become the manifestation of His resurrection power. The whole of nature, especially springtime planting, is a constant reminder of death, burial, and resurrection.
Paul writes that 'if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection' (Romans 6:5). Les explains that being planted refers to the tomb: just as seed is buried in the ground, so the believer is identified with Christ's burial. Old Adam has been crucified, and because we are dead, we are buried with Christ in that likeness. Unless we have been planted in the likeness of His death, we cannot have new life.
A kernel of wheat must fall into the ground and die before it brings forth much fruit (John 12:24). The seed is placed in the soil, receives moisture and sunlight, then dies and rots; out of that death comes a new green shoot, a stem, and eventually many kernels. Les shows that springtime and all of nature picture death, burial, and resurrection. In the same way, we have to die before we can know new life in the Spirit.
Les teaches that when the Holy Spirit regenerates the old dead spirit, fellowship with God is restored. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the person, the old sin nature becomes a new divine nature, and this regenerated part is now in consort with the eternal God. It begins to have its effect on the body, the Christian walk, and growth in grace and knowledge.
Because we are planted in the likeness of His death, we will also be resurrected in His likeness. We come up together in resurrection power. Les stresses that we never become God, but we become the very manifestation of His resurrection power.
New Life After the Old Adam Dies
Les explains that when the old Adam is crucified, God regenerates the dead spirit, restores fellowship, and gives a new divine nature that begins to affect the body and leads to growth in grace.
Planted in His Death for New Life
Out of the death of a planted seed comes new life; Paul uses this to show that unless we have been planted in the likeness of Christ's death, we cannot have new life.
Death Before Resurrection in Nature
When a kernel of wheat is planted, it dies and germinates, and springtime itself pictures death, burial, and resurrection; the same is true in the Spirit — we have to die.
Resurrected in His Likeness
If we are planted in the likeness of Christ's death, we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection; we come up together in resurrection power and become its manifestation, not God.
The Kernel of Wheat Must Be Planted
A kernel left in the granary never reproduces; it must be buried, die, and rot, and out of that death comes a green shoot and much fruit — Jesus used this of His own death, burial, and resurrection.
The Seed Must Die to Sprout
Before germination, the seed is taken out of its container and placed in the ground where it receives moisture and sunlight; before it can sprout new life, it must die.
Planted Together: The Tomb
Paul's phrase 'planted together in the likeness of His death' refers to the tomb — if we have been buried because we were dead and old Adam is crucified, we await resurrection life.
Nature's Reminder of Resurrection
Throughout creation, everything in nature is constantly screaming the fact of resurrection; every springtime planting is a reminder, because Jesus used that analogy.
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:
This verse directly connects being 'planted' with the likeness of Christ's death and gives the promise of resurrection likeness.
John 12:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Jesus uses the corn of wheat to show that death in the ground precedes abundant fruit, a picture of His own death and resurrection.
No. Les explains that being planted in the likeness of Christ's death refers to identification with His burial — the old Adam is crucified. The believer is placed in the tomb with Christ and, out of that death, receives new spiritual life.
It dies, rots, and is buried, but out of its death comes a green shoot, a stem, and eventually many kernels. Les uses this to picture how death precedes resurrection life.
No. Les stresses that we will never become God. Instead, we become the very manifestation of His resurrection power when we come up together in His likeness.
At regeneration, the Holy Spirit regenerates the dead spirit and dwells in the person. The old sin nature becomes a new divine nature, which begins to affect the body, leading to growth in grace and knowledge.
Watch the Teaching: Plan of Salvation: Faith Alone in Christ's Death & Resurrection