Does Romans 6:3-4 Teach Water Baptism?

It would be incorrect to ascribe the baptism of Romans 6:3-4 to the water baptism of John the Baptist, Jesus, or Peter at Pentecost. You will search in vain to find any mention of water even in the entire book of Romans! Furthermore, the verse clearly says that we are baptized into Christ, not the river Jordan, or into any other water. There is a significant difference between being baptized into water and being baptized into Christ (See ‘What is Baptism’ for a definition).

Strangely, many continue to use Romans 6:3-4 to justify water baptism in this dispensation. They are quick to point out the symbolism of going under water to a burial, and coming up out of the water to resurrection. Yet, Paul never makes that symbolic connection having never mentioned water baptism, and so the verse must be forced to say what it never has.

John’s Water Baptism and the Cross

When John the Baptist came baptizing, scripture clearly states the method and function of his baptism.

“John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.” – Mark 1:4-5

It is clear that John is the baptizer. It is also clear that the function of his baptism was ‘for the remission of sins’. Lastly, it is clear that John baptized with water, specifically, ‘in the river Jordan’.

What must be pointed out is that while John the Baptist came preaching repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, he never preaches the cross of Christ, his death, or resurrection. In fact, even Jesus’ disciples who were most likely baptized by John with water and themselves performed water baptisms were ignorant of the cross and resurrection years after their own baptisms!

“And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again….And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. ” – Luke 18:33-34

The only thing that is certain is that water baptism was preached of repentance for the remission of sins.

Water baptism could hardly have been performed as a symbol of the death and resurrection of Christ, if the death and resurrection was not understood by those who were baptized or by the very baptizers.

Peter’s Water Baptism and the Cross

In Matthew 28:19-20 we see the resurrected Lord Jesus commanding the disciples to ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you’.

In response Peter at Pentecost offered the crucifixion of Jesus as a testimony to the wickedness of rebellious Israel’s need for repentance. The Jews then present ‘were pricked in their heart’ (Acts 2:36-37).

Peter’s response was that they should ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.’ This message of repentance and baptism for the remission of sins was the same that John the Baptist taught. The fact that this baptism was into water is evident from Acts 8:36 and Acts 10:47.

Yet, it is instructive to see that Peter was not preaching the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, but water baptism for the remission of sins, just as John the Baptist.