tenant - baptism

The Christian believer being baptized is immersed beneath the water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, which expresses the believer’s death to sin and the burial of their old life, and then brought out of the water, which expresses the believer’s resurrection to a new kingdom life in Christ Jesus. 

(Romans 6.1-23)

Dead to Sin but Alive in Christ

1  What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2  God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (Col. 2.12)

5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6  knowing this, that our old person is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7  For one that is dead is freed from sin.

8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9  knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once:  but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:  but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14  For sin shall not have dominion over you:  for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Servants of Righteousness

15  What then?  shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?  God forbid.

16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19  I speak after the manner of people because of the infirmity of your flesh:  for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Colossians 2.1-23)

1  For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at La-odice'a, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2  that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto ALL riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

3  in whom are hid ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4  And this I say, lest anyone should beguile you with enticing words.

5  For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7  rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Dead but Risen with Christ

8  Beware lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of people, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9  For in him dwelleth ALL the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of ALL principality and power:

11  in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12  buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  (Rom. 6.4)

13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, (Eph. 2.1-5) having forgiven you ALL trespasses;

14  blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Eph. 2.15)

15  and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16  Let no one therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  (Rom. 14.1-6)

17  which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18  Let no one beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which they hath not seen, vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind,

19  and not holding the Head, from which ALL the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.  (Eph. 4.16)

20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21  (touch not; taste not; handle not;
22  which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of people?

23  which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.