Buried and Raised

1. The Foundation

The central theme of the song "Buried and Raised" is grounded in the profound truth of Romans 6:1-4. The Word of God declares, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

This scripture demands our attention, for embedded in it lies the key to understanding the believer's new life in Christ—a life characterized not by continual sin but by transformative power and resurrection life.

2. The Historical & Biblical Context

Romans, penned by the Apostle Paul, is a magnum opus of Christian doctrine. In this epistle to the church at Rome, Paul methodically expounds the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel. Here, Romans 6 challenges the early believers' misunderstanding of grace. The question, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" arises from a misunderstanding or misuse of God’s grace as a license for sin.

Paul, deeply acquainted with Jewish law and living under Roman rule, writes to a diverse community struggling to reconcile Jewish traditions with newfound Christian faith. Their query reflects a wrestling with the transition from law to grace, the old covenant to the new. Paul's emphatic, "By no means!" is his strongest repudiation. He admonishes them to recognize the new reality of their life in Christ—a life not driven by sin, but elevated by grace and new allegiance to righteousness.

3. Word Study (Hebrew/Greek)

Let us consider two pivotal Greek words found in Romans 6:1-4.

Baptizō (βαπτίζω): Translated as "baptized," this Greek term signifies submersion, but far beyond a mere physical act. It is an immersion into death with Christ. The nuance is that of being completely enveloped—there is no partial engagement. In the early church, baptism symbolized complete identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism is integral as both an act of obedience and symbolic of the spiritual reality.

Kainotēs (καινότης): Translated here as "newness" in "new life," it connotes not just a renovation but an unprecedented existence. This is not simply a revival of the old; it is a creation completely novel—one that carries the eternal quality of Christ's life. The believer, therefore, enters a state of being that shares in Christ's resurrected nature.

4. Theological Exposition

The lyrics of "Buried and Raised" encapsulate the heart of Paul's teaching in Romans 6:1-4. Let's examine their theological nuances.

First Stanza: The Renunciation of Sin

"Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!" The question challenges the believer to comprehend the misuse of grace. Romans 6:1-2 surfaces a core truth: dying to sin precludes living in it. This reflects 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" The decisiveness of Paul’s rejection is poignant—echoing the irrevocable nature of the believer’s death to sin.

Second Stanza: Unity with Christ in Death and Resurrection

"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death..." The lyrics draw directly from Paul's exposition of baptism. This burial is a severance from the domination of sin. Colossians 2:12 mirrors this: "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God." The resurrection "through the glory of the Father," marks the inception of our new life, as seen in Ephesians 2:5-6, establishing believers as co-heirs with Christ.

Third Stanza: Living in the Newness of Life

The repetition of phrases underscores the centrality of new life. The distinction of living "a brand-new life" reiterates Romans 6:4. The new life in Christ is commissioned and empowered by the very glory that resurrected Jesus, reiterating John 11:25 where Christ proclaims Himself as the resurrection and the life.

5. Practical Application: How to Walk This Out

Understanding the depths of our transformation in Christ necessitates real-life application. Here are steps to walk in this victory:

1. Acknowledge the Reality of Your Death to Sin: Proclaim what is written: you have died with Christ. Continually remind yourself that sin's authority has been broken.

2. Embrace Your Identity in Christ's Resurrection: Meditate on scriptures such as Galatians 2:20, affirming your union with Christ. Cultivate an awareness of living by His faith and power.

3. Commit to the Renewal of Mind: Romans 12:2 exhorts us to be transformed by renewing our minds. Immerse yourself in the Word, allowing it to shape and influence your thoughts and actions.

4. Walk by the Spirit: Galatians 5:16 declares that walking by the Spirit prevents gratification of the flesh. Strive to be led by the Holy Spirit in every facet of life, a surrendered walk bringing forth the fruit of sanctification.

6. A Proclamation & Prayer

Let us make this proclamation together: "We declare that in Christ, we have been buried with Him into death and raised into a new life. Sin's power is broken, and we walk in the glory of the Father, living as new creations filled with the Holy Spirit."

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the wondrous work accomplished through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We ask for understanding and power to walk in the full reality of our death and resurrection with Him. May our lives perpetually reflect the newness You have granted us, living each day for Your glory. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.