Text – Romans 6:1-6:

1 What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.

Lenten Meditation:

In the beginning, Lent was meant to be a preparation of Baptism before Easter. Candidates for baptism were led through 40 days of teaching and preparation. But over time, Lent developed into an occasion for self-reflection centered on the life of Christ and his sacrifice on our behalf.

Baptism is still pertinent to Lenten preparation. In our text for today, Paul told the Roman church that when they were baptized they renounced their previous life and sin and entered, symbolically, into the death and resurrection of Jesus as enacted by the act of baptism.

Baptism is still a reminder of the life we pledged our lives to. A life of death to sin and life to God. Paul asked, “Should we continue sinning when we pledged ourselves to the Grace of Christ? Of course not!” What is more Lenten than that.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, in this Lenten season we are reminded of the covenant we formed with you to live according to your will. To live in repudiation to sin and its previous power over us. Help us to remember our baptism and our commitment to follow you alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.