Union with Christ is the main symbol of baptism. This union is a union with Him in His death, burial and resurrection (Rom. 6:4-6). This passage is crucial because it lies between two major themes that the apostle Paul develops in his great epistle. In the first five chapters of Romans, he deals with the theme of the justification. In the following three chapters, he explains the santificación. Union with Christ is the central point of both themes. We are justified because of our union with Christ by faith. Being united with Christ in his death, the redemptive merit of that death is imputed to us, and on this basis the Father declares us justified. We then begin to live a new life of obedience and holiness, being united with Christ in his resurrection. His life is our life. We are already united with Him.

These truths are beautifully and perfectly illustrated in the liquid burial of baptism. Apart from the “burial” in water, there is no other way in which the transcendental fact of this union can be better symbolized. Once we understand that a believer's baptism and union with Christ go together, we have the key not only to Paul's arguments in Romans chapter 6, but also the key to understanding Ephesians chapter 4; Colossians 2:9 to 3:10; 1 Corinthians 10:1-17 and 12:12-31; and also 1 Peter 3:18-4:2. In each case there is an exhortation to live in a manner that is consistent with our union with Christ, and the references to baptism should be interpreted in this light.

Believer's baptism also symbolizes the washing away of sins (Acts 22:16). Therefore, unless the one being baptized has actually experienced the forgiveness of sins, one should not proceed with this ordinance.

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