Jehovah' Witnesses are taught to believe that Romans 6:7 refers to a person's own literal death:
Watchtower May 15th
1982, pp. 8,9 - "The Bible explains that at death
a person is set free or released from any sins he committed."
Hmmm, it's interesting that only one of the org's quotes below includes a reference to Paul's words. Wonder why?
w06
4/1 p. 30 par. 16 - Complete immersion appropriately symbolizes
the dramatic change we have made in our life- we figuratively
die to our former life course and begin life anew in the
service of God.
w92
3/15 p. 17 par. 19 - When a baptismal candidate is buried under
the water and then lifted out of it, he dies figuratively
to his former course of life and is raised to a new way of life,
w88
8/15 p. 27 - While under the water, he, in effect, dies
to his former course of life, and on coming out of the
water, he becomes, as it were, alive to a new course of
self-sacrifice in Jehovah’s service. (Compare Romans 6:2-4;
12:1; Philippians 3:16.)
w88
6/15 p. 29 - While
under the water, it is as if they have died
to their former course of life.
On coming out of the water, it is as if they are now alive to a new
course of self-sacrifice in service to God.
w88
3/15 p. 14 par. 18 - Going under the water well illustrates a
person’s dying to his former course of conduct. His
being lifted up out of the water pictures his being raised to a new
way of life.
w88
1/15 p. 28 - Water baptism denotes dying to our former
course of conduct and being raised to a way of life that
harmonizes with the divine will.
w78
11/1 p. 16 par. 19 - By going down into the water, being covered
by it, we are, as it were, buried. We die as to our former
course of action;
w74
10/1 p. 607 - In order to be anointed with holy spirit and
accepted as spiritual sons of God, they had to die to their
former course in life as imperfect humans, have their sins
forgiven by God and have human perfection imputed to them.
w67
12/1 pp. 710-711 - That symbolic act speaks eloquently of your
becoming dead to your own selfish former course of action
(when dipped below the water), and henceforth to live in harmony with
God’s will (coming up out of the water).
w60
5/1 p. 264 - Thus, they keep the important symbol of baptism—that
of one’s voluntarily dying to his former course of life
and being raised up to a new life in God’s service.
w58
8/1 p. 472 par 2 - The manner in which Jesus was completely
submerged or hidden in Jordan’s water well illustrated how Jesus
became buried as dead to his former course of earthly life.
w56
3/15 p. 177 par. 4 - Do they forget that when they made their
dedication to God and symbolized it by water baptism they died
to their former course of life?
w56
7/1 p. 404 par. 8 - Being lowered by John into the water backward
and completely submerged in the water well illustrated how Jesus had
become dead and buried to his former course in earthly life.
kl
chap. 18 p. 176 par. 11 - As
you are submerged, or “buried,” beneath the water, it is as
though you have died
to your former course of life.
