'What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.' Romans 6: 1-4

I pasted post it notes all over the book of Romans 25 years ago. I folded the notes in half and gave each note a heading. I look back on my notes and can see I didn't have a clue. I'm telling you what I wished I would have known so long ago.

John baptized by immersion unto repentance in Jordan. This repentance was a repentance from sin and dead works. The author of Hebrews explains it as turning from the dead tenets of the law which includes priesthood. John's invitation was to the Jews who were entrenched in the law and priesthood. The Jews were too religious to obey a spirit law. John the Baptist in Jordan said, 'there cometh one after me whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to unloose, he shall baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost.'

This is the spirit baptism that effects change. Water baptism was a shadow of the baptism of the Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Ghost makes the real change. It is not an ordinance, but rather an anointing, by Jesus.

Baptism of the spirit chokes worldly cares and desires. Our old self is crucified that the body of sin might be destroyed. The death of self is necessary that we should walk in newness of life.

When Jesus raised the cup and said to his disciples, 'this is the blood of the new covenant, drink ye all of it!' He meant don't drag any part of the old covenant of works into the new covenant of Jesus! Don't mix old with new. Don't mix your traditions of religion with me!

The church has a difficult time explaining the new covenant. They pack everything into the new covenant including; the Book of Mormon; temple covenants; and the sealing ordinances. But the way it works is explained in Ephesians 1: 13-14. You hear the word of truth, you believe and you are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest or guarantee of your inheritance.

'In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.'

With the baptism of the Holy Ghost you are baptized into Jesus Christ and anointed by Jesus Christ to walk in newness of life. The anointing is the seal of the Holy Spirit of Promise.