Being the wise pastor that he is, Paul knows the danger of people responding to his teaching about salvation the wrong way. As Paul has been teaching that we are saved by grace and not works, people might then say, “If it is all of grace, it then doesn’t matter how we live.” (v1)

Paul responds to this by teaching what actually happens when someone becomes a Christian. They are baptised into Jesus’ death and resurrection (v3-4). This is speaking of baptism by the Holy Spirit which is rebirth. When someone becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit has applied to their soul the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

This happens so as to break the power of sin in their lives. The Christian is rescued not just from the guilt but also from the power of sin (v5-9). Sin no longer has control over the Christian but they need to believe this and live in the light of it. It is when we understand this purpose of salvation that we realise that it is so wrong to go on living sinfully (v10-11).

If you are a Christian do you understand that you are a new creation? Does your living reflect such a change? Pray about this.