Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 6:3

"Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" — Romans 6:3 (ASV)

Know ye not. This is a further appeal to the Christian profession and the principles involved in it, in answer to the objection. The simple argument in this verse and the two following is that by our very profession made in baptism, we have renounced sin and have pledged ourselves to live to God.

So many of us, etc. This refers to all who were baptized; that is, all professing Christians. As this renunciation of sin had thus been made by all who professed religion, the objection could not have reference to Christianity in any manner.

Were baptized. The act of baptism denotes dedication to the service of Him in whose name we are baptized. One of its designs is to dedicate or consecrate us to the service of Christ.

Thus (1 Corinthians 10:2), the Israelites are said to have been baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; that is, they became consecrated, dedicated, or bound to him as their leader and lawgiver.

In the passage before us, the Apostle's argument is evidently drawn from the supposition that we have been solemnly consecrated by baptism to the service of Christ, and that to sin is therefore a violation of the very nature of our Christian profession.

Into. (eiv). This is the word used in Matthew 28:19: Teach all nations, baptizing them into (eiv) the name of the Father, etc. It means being baptized unto His service; receiving Him as the Savior and Guide, and devoting all to Him and His cause.

Were baptized into His death. We were baptized with special reference to His death. Our baptism had a strong resemblance to His death. By His death, He became insensible to the things of the world; by baptism, we in like manner become dead to sin.

Furthermore, we are baptized with particular reference to the design of His death—the great leading feature and purpose of His work. That purpose was to expiate sin, to free people from its power, and to make them pure.

We have professed our devotion to the same cause and have solemnly consecrated ourselves to the same design: to put an end to the dominion of iniquity.