Audio commentary on this verse

Note 4 at Ro 6:3: Our spirits are the part of us that became born again (see note 2 at Joh 3:3), and this is the part of us that Paul was referring to as being baptized into Jesus and His death (see note 3 at Mt 26:41). Our physical bodies are not dead, and our souls are not dead. But our "old man" died with Christ (see note 8 at Ro 6:6).

Note 5 at Ro 6:3: The baptism that is being spoken of here in Ro 6:3-4 is not water baptism. Heb 6:2 speaks of the doctrine of baptisms (plural), clearly stating that there is more than one kind of baptism.

It is easy to see that there is a difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism into the body of Christ. When John the Baptist spoke of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Mt 3:11, he said that Jesus is the baptizer and the Holy Spirit is the one that we are being baptized with. But in 1Co 12:13, Paul said that the Holy Spirit is the baptizer and the body of Christ is what we are being baptized into. So, there are two different baptizers and two different elements that we are being baptized into, leaving no doubt that these are two different baptisms.

The mistake of always associating the word "baptism" with water baptism has led many people to incorrectly interpret Ro 6:3-4 as speaking of water baptism. Some have even attempted to use these verses to prove that water baptism is the act that causes salvation. However, that is not what Paul was saying and, in fact, is the exact opposite of every point that he had made in the book of Romans for salvation by grace through faith. This is not speaking of the sign of water baptism (see note 9 at Mr 16:16 and note 2 at Ac 2:38).

Paul was speaking of the act where all of us who put saving faith in Jesus as our Lord are automatically and instantaneously baptized into Jesus and all that He purchased for us (1Co 12:13 and Col 2:12). He was simply stating that as believers, we have become dead to sin (Ro 6:6) through the death of Jesus. Jesus didn't die for His sins; He had none. He died for our sins (1Pe 2:24). Therefore, His death was for us, and all the benefits to be obtained through His death and resurrection are our benefits.