Romans 6

Chapter 6 is a beautiful chapter that contrasts the freedom that comes from living righteously to the deadly consequences of sin. Paul first explains how our baptism is in similitude to the death and resurrection of Christ. We are buried in the water as he was buried in the tomb. And as he came forth a perfect resurrected being, we come forth a new person, cleansed and free from sin. And just as death has no more control of the Savior's existence, sin will no more have control over us. We are free from it. People who have struggled with weakness and addiction, when it is overcome, experience a wonderful sense of freedom and control in their life. Rather than feeling to dead to life, they feel more alive, more energetic, and see life through a new set of eyes. In verses 12 and 13, Paul says to not "let sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof....but yield yourselves unto God as those are alive from the dead." He asks who we are the servants of, sin or righteousness? The wages of sin is death, spiritual death or alienation from God for sure, but dead to the good things in life as well. The wages of righteousness brings freedom and God's gift of eternal life. Then Paul says, we will see fruit or rewards in holiness. We will be emancipated, freed, through the life-giving powers of the Atonement.

Two other important things are implied in this chapter. One is the importance of complete immersion when we are baptized. Sprinkling is hardly symbolic of the Savior's burial. We must be immersed. The other thing is that Paul says we will be in the likeness of his resurrection. When the resurrected Savior appeared to the apostles and others in a room, he said, "Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have." His resurrection is what ours will be. Not just the chance to live after our death, but to have a perfect eternal body.