“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried, therefore, with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:3-5)
In this passage from Romans, St. Paul unfolds baptism, one of the most crucial and important Christian sacraments. During baptism, our old, sinful person dies, and in the person of Christ, we are born again into a new life in Him. Henceforth, we are alive through Christ and for Christ, over Whom sin and death could not claim victory. We are no longer slaves to sin; we are now heirs of God. Through baptism, we have been united with Christ, and from this point forward, His life is our life, His victories are our victories, and His presence is our strength (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Now, this signifies that our entire life ought to be one of baptism. In this baptismal life, our personal aims, strivings, desires, and sinful passions are buried daily in repentance. The new person is resurrected in us to live for God through love and righteousness.
Therefore, in agreement with the Apostle’s directives, during this period of the Great Lent and throughout our lives, we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive for God, in and through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11). Let us grow in our understanding that the free, happy, and purposeful life can be found only through the path of repentance, walking in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ towards His crucifixion and His resurrection.
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