Student Choice Assignment, Week 5, New Testament Class

Choice 3: Romans 6. Baptism

      1.      Review Romans 6:1-13 and answer the following questions in writing:

·         What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

We must let go of our old sinful self and become free from sin.

·         What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

The death of Jesus Christ, his burial, and resurrection.

·         Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?

If our baptism is meant to symbolize the death of our former, sinful self, then we need to be fully “buried” in the water. When someone is sprinkled with water, they are not fully immersed in the water, so that act does not symbolize the death of our old self.

·         What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the newness of life?

Just as Christ overcame death when he was resurrected, we can overcome sin when we are baptized. After we are baptized, we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us avoid sin. We will not be perfect and so we will have the need to repent of our sins. Each week we are given the opportunity to renew our baptismal covenants when we partake of the sacrament.

·         According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

Ideally the natural man inside of each of us would die at baptism.

      2.      Study Romans 6:14-23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

There are only two masters, the Lord and Satan. We know who we are serving by the choices we are making. If we choose to continually sin, we are serving Satan. If we choose righteousness by keeping the commandments, we are serving the Lord.

The true source of freedom is the source that when we follow it, we are not limited or tied down because of those choices.