A young man being baptized in a baptismal font in a church building in Madagascar.
Yielding ourselves to God is not easy. But Jesus Christ promises that as we let our old, sinful selves die, He will give us new life, changing our natures to become more like Him. Paul taught that through the ordinance of baptism, we can receive the Savior’s transforming power to help us “walk in newness of life” ( Romans 6:4). This lesson can help you seek change through Jesus Christ and better recognize when those changes are happening.
What do you remember about your baptism?
How have you changed spiritually since you were baptized?
Take a moment to ponder your spiritual progression. You might ask yourself questions like “Is my faith in and relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ improving?” or “How does what I have learned about my Savior affect my attitude and actions?” As you study Romans 6, ponder whether you are becoming more like the Savior and how He can help you continue to grow and become more like Him.
Baptism by immersion symbolizes death and resurrection
Learning how to recognize and understand symbols in the scriptures is a valuable skill. Paul used the symbolism of baptism by immersion to help the Saints in Rome understand that we must give up our old, sinful life so that Jesus Christ can change us and give us new life through His Atonement.
Read Romans 6:3–8, looking for symbols that can teach you more about the Savior. It may be helpful to know that the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 7 reads “For he that is dead to sin is freed from sin” (in Romans 6:7, footnote a).
According to Romans 6:3–8, what does descending into, being buried under, and coming forth out of the water in baptism represent for us?
President Russell M. Nelson taught:
Image
Official portrait of President Russell M. Nelson taken January 2018
Essential ordinances of the gospel symbolize the Atonement. Baptism by immersion is symbolic of the death, burial, and Resurrection of the Redeemer.
(Russell M. Nelson, “The Atonement,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 35)
How would you summarize Romans 6:4 as a statement of truth?
The following is one way to summarize Romans 6:4: Through Jesus Christ, we can be changed and “walk in newness of life.”
What do you think it means to “walk in newness of life”? (Romans 6:4).
When have you felt that through the Savior you were able to walk in newness of life?
Why do you think that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to walk in newness of life?
As recorded in verses 5–6, Paul taught that through the covenant and ordinance of baptism, “our old man” or “body of sin” is “crucified with [Jesus Christ]” and “destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
Take a moment to ponder the sins or weaknesses you struggle with that you want removed from your life. You will revisit these thoughts later in this lesson.
What changes can I make?
What types of changes do you think are easy to make? Which ones are difficult?
Paul used the example of the Savior’s overcoming death and sin to teach that we can also overcome our sins through Him. Read Romans 6:9–14, looking for how Paul related the death and Resurrection of Christ to how we can overcome sin.
1. The following questions may help you understand these verses. Answer two or more of them in your study journal:
Just as Jesus Christ “died unto sin once” (verse 10), we are baptized only once for a remission of our sins. However, each week we can renew our commitment to “walk in newness of life” (verse 4) by partaking of the sacrament. How does this weekly ordinance help you show your love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
What do you think Paul meant by “reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ”? (verse 11).
Why might a young person choose to follow Paul’s counsel recorded in verse 12? What blessings come from living this way?
The word members in verse 13 refers to our body parts. How can you use your hands, feet, head, and heart “as instruments of righteousness unto God”? (verse 13).
The Joseph Smith Translation of the first part of verse 14 reads, “For in so doing sin shall not have dominion over you” (in Romans 6:14, footnote a). How does following the teachings recorded in verses 11–13 make the promise given in verse 14 obtainable?
You can be freed from sin
Read Romans 6:16–18, 22–23, looking for the blessings of walking in newness of life.
2. Answer the following questions in your study journal:
How did Paul describe the blessings of walking in newness of life?
As you continue to strive to overcome sin through Christ, what do you think newness of life in Jesus Christ will look and feel like?
What can you do to walk in newness of life starting today?
Optional: Want to Learn More?
What are some ways I can change?
Sister Becky Craven, former Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, taught:
Image
Sister Rebecca L. Craven, second counselor, Young Women general presidency. Official Portrait as of October 2018.
In return for His priceless payment for each of us, the Lord asks us for a change of heart. The change He requests from us is not for His benefit but for ours. …
After hearing the words spoken by King Benjamin, his people cried out, declaring that their hearts had changed, saying, “Because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, … we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” [Mosiah 5:2]. The scriptures do not say that they immediately became perfect; rather, their desire to change compelled them to action. Their change of heart meant putting off the natural man or woman and yielding to the Spirit as they strove to become more like Jesus Christ.
(Becky Craven, “Keep the Change,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 58)