John Calvin Commentary Romans 6:4

"We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life." — Romans 6:4 (ASV)

We have then been buried with him, etc. He now begins to indicate the object of our having been baptized into the death of Christ, though he does not yet completely unfold it; and the object is: that we, being dead to ourselves, may become new creatures. He rightly makes a transition from a fellowship in death to a fellowship in life, for these two things are connected by an indissoluble knot: that the old man is destroyed by the death of Christ, and that His resurrection brings righteousness and makes us new creatures. And surely, since Christ has been given to us for life, what is the purpose of our dying with Him, except that we may rise to a better life? Therefore, He slays what is mortal in us for no other reason than that He may give us life again.

Let us understand that the Apostle does not simply exhort us to imitate Christ, as if he had said that the death of Christ is a pattern all Christians are to follow. For he undoubtedly ascends higher, as he announces a doctrine with which he evidently connects an exhortation. His doctrine is this: that the death of Christ is efficacious to destroy and demolish the depravity of our flesh, and His resurrection to effect the renovation of a better nature, and that by baptism we are admitted into a participation in this grace.

With this foundation laid, Christians may very suitably be exhorted to strive to respond to their calling. Furthermore, it is not to the point to say that this power is not apparent in all the baptized. For Paul, according to his usual manner when he speaks of the faithful, connects the reality and the effect with the outward sign; for we know that whatever the Lord offers by the visible symbol is confirmed and ratified by their faith. In short, he teaches what is the real character of baptism when rightly received. So he testifies to the Galatians that all who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). Indeed, this is how we must speak, as long as the institution of the Lord and the faith of the godly unite; for we never have naked and empty symbols, except when our ingratitude and wickedness hinder the working of divine beneficence.

By the glory of the Father, that is, by that illustrious power by which He exhibited Himself as truly glorious and, as it were, manifested the greatness of His glory. Thus, the power of God, which was exercised in the resurrection of Christ, is often set forth in Scripture in sublime terms, and not without reason. For it is of great importance that, by such an explicit record of the ineffable power of God, not only faith in the last resurrection (which far exceeds the perception of the flesh) but also faith concerning other benefits we receive from the resurrection of Christ, should be highly commended to us.