I have asked this question before, but I want to ask it again. Did Jesus' resurrection occur before He was buried? Before you think I have completely lost all sense of sanity, you need to understand that millions of people, maybe even you, appear to believe that is what happened. Let me explain.

Romans 6:4 says, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Note the comparison between Christ and us. "That just as Christ... even so we also." What happened to Christ? "Raised from the dead." What parallels that for us? "Walk in newness of life." What events preceded those? For Christ - His burial. For us - baptism. Now if we can have "newness of life" before baptism, as many teach and believe, then, to maintain the parallel, you must believe Christ was raised before He was buried.

"Absurd," you say. I know! That is why I teach baptism is essential to be saved, to become a Christian.

- Rogers Reflector, 8/13/2000