Thanks be to God (Romans 6)

There are many things in this life for which we can thank God. We can thank Him for our homes, families, food, jobs, health, and more. These are all certainly worthy of gratefulness. But what about baptism? Even more, what about somebody making the decision to be baptized? In Romans 6, while speaking about sin and baptism, Paul says, “But thanks be to God, that though you were slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that form of teaching to which you were handed over” (6:17).

There are several other reasons mentioned for which to be thankful for connected with this baptism.

• We can be thankful that through baptism we have died to sin (6:2-3).

• We can be thankful that we have been baptized into Christ, meaning His church (6:3).

• We can be thankful that through baptism we are raised to newness of life by God’s glory (6:4).

• We can be thankful that through baptism we have been freed from sin (6:7).

• We can be thankful that through baptism we are alive to God and have a purpose (6:11-13).

• We can be thankful that through baptism we now under grace (6:15).

• We can be thankful that through baptism we are now belong to righteousness (6:18).

• We can be thankful that through baptism we receive the gift of God which is eternal life (6:23).

This past Sunday our new brother Travis Tunnel died to sin by being baptized into Christ, in which he was also raised to walk in newness of life, having been freed from sin. At that point he was made alive to God, to use his life as a tool for righteousness, living under the grace of God, having received the gift of eternal life. Thanks be to God that he obeyed from the heart that form of teaching to which he was handed over!