Immersion symbolizes being buried and raised with Christ.
Romans 6:4
Ah yes, Romans 6:4. This is the mother lode for Credobaptists. All of Baptist belief understanding of baptism can be centered around this particular pericope.
For Baptists, this passage of Scripture clearly shows that a Christian is only to be immersed. They will typically couple this verse with other baptismal texts that depict immersion baptism such as Matthew 3, Acts 8, and 10.
On the other hand, for Paedobaptists, Romans 6:4 this is a most beloved passage, which gives hope for the forgiveness of sins and shows the Salvific content of baptism.
Critical to how Credobaptists justify “immersion only baptism” is specifically the word “buried.” It is used only twice in the NT and only by Paul.
Normally immersionists will use the word “picture” or “symbol” to describe “burial” as going under the water. And from the analogy of the “picture” of burial, come to the conclusion of the mode of immersion baptism only. Another popular way Credobaptists describe Romans 6:4 is the word “identification.” They will say we “identify with Christ” in immersion baptism. Just exactly what Baptist’s mean by this is not define.
Scripturally, “to bury” refers to any process in which we place human remains in their final resting place.
Furthermore, we have to make a distinction between modern western and ancient mid-eastern burial practices. In the ancient middle east, it was common for prominent people to be buried in a tomb. The Egyptian pharaohs were buried in their pyramids. Abraham was buried in a cave. King David was buried in a tomb in Jerusalem. The raising of Lazarus was from a tomb. And Jesus was buried a tomb.
Jesus was not buried in the ground and immersed with dirt.
This is not a picture of immersion baptism.
The women in the morning didn’t go to the tomb of Jesus with shovels, picks, and a wheel barrow to dig up the body of Jesus.
This is not a picture of immersion baptism.
We Americans interchange the words “buried” and “tomb” frequently. Remember Gaucho Marx famous question: Who was
buried in Grant’s
Tomb? Grant and his wife!
When credo’s state this is a “picture” of immersion baptism, they are confusing modern burial practices with ancient mid eastern practices.
And even if this were a “picture” of the administration of baptism, the “picture” would be of sprinkling or pouring. Why? Because sprinkling and pouring is done above ground level…the way Jesus was buried! The very passage of the credos use to promote their belief in immersion only baptism, actually works against them.
Romans 6 is not a “picture” of immersion baptism; it is not a “parable” of concerning the mode of immersion baptism; and it is certainly not a doctrine of a supposed “liquid grave.”
A distinction must be made between
what baptism accomplishes (Romans 6) and
how baptism is to be administered (All the texts in the Book of Acts showing examples of baptism).
Romans 6 is not a text on how to administer baptism.
This will be discussed in next post.