This verse is part of a larger passage in which the Apostle Paul is discussing the significance of baptism and the believer's relationship with Christ. In this particular verse, Paul uses the imagery of baptism as a symbolic burial with Christ, which leads to a new life through his resurrection.
The verse can be understood in several ways:
Firstly, the verse emphasizes the idea that baptism represents a death to the old way of life and a rebirth into a new way of living. Through baptism, believers are united with Christ in his death, and as a result, their old sinful self is put to death. The believer is then raised to new life with Christ, free from the power of sin and death.
Secondly, the verse highlights the central message of the Christian faith, which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The phrase "through the glory of the Father" emphasizes the power and authority of God the Father in raising Christ from the dead, and how this event serves as the ultimate proof of Christ's divinity and the validity of the Christian faith.
Thirdly, the verse emphasizes the importance of living a new life in Christ. As believers, we are called to live in a way that reflects the new life we have been given through our baptism. This means living a life characterized by righteousness, holiness, and love, and rejecting the old way of living that is marked by sin and death.
The broader context of Romans 6 is Paul's argument that believers are not to continue in sin because they have died to sin through their union with Christ. He stresses that believers have been freed from the dominion of sin and have become slaves of righteousness.
In this sense, Romans 6:4 can be seen as a call to live out the reality of our new life in Christ. We are no longer enslaved to sin, but have been set free to live a new life in Christ. This new life is characterized by obedience to God, faithfulness, and a commitment to living in accordance with God's will.
The phrase "we too may live a new life" emphasizes the idea that our new life in Christ is not just a future hope, but a present reality. Through our union with Christ, we have been given new life that we are called to live out each day. This new life is not just a change in behavior, but a fundamental transformation of our identity and our relationship with God.
Finally, the imagery of baptism as a burial and resurrection emphasizes the importance of both the death and resurrection of Christ in our salvation. Through baptism, believers are united with Christ in his death and are raised to new life with him in his resurrection. This symbolizes the transformation that occurs in our lives when we put our faith in Christ and are reconciled to God.
Overall, Romans 6:4 is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the gospel and the new life that is made possible through our union with Christ. It calls believers to live a life that is characterized by faithfulness, obedience, and a commitment to living in accordance with God's will.
Romans 6:4. We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.