Reading: Romans 6:6-11

Romans 6:11 – “You should also consider yourselves dead to sin but alive for God in Jesus Christ.”

Coming back to Romans 6 today, we go a bit deeper into Paul’s thoughts on our new life in Christ. I love Paul’s word choice for describing the change from old to new self. He writes of our old self being “crucified.” This conveys the magnitude of dying to sin and the power that it can have in our lives. This word speaks of commitment. It also helps us understand the finality of leaving behind “the corpse that has been controlled by sin.” Crucified with Christ, our new self is freed from sin’s power.

Because we are set free from the power of sin, we can fully live a new life in Christ. In the same way that death has no power over Christ, sin holds no eternal power in our lives. Through his sacrifice, the price was paid so that we can be forgiven and restored back into right relationship with God. The power of sin to trap us in the guilt, shame, and regret was broken forever. Because Christ “died to sin once and for all,” forgiveness is always available to us.

Given the ability to be made right with God again and again, we are freed to live for God just as Christ lived for God. In verse 11 we read this great reminder: “You should also consider yourselves dead to sin but alive for God in Jesus Christ.” Since sin has no power in our lives, all of our focus, energy, and love can go to living for Christ – instead of fighting the power of sin. Alive for Christ, we walk in the newness of life, bringing all of the glory to God.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for making a way for us to walk daily with you. Without the sacrifice of your son, we’d be forever lost in our sin. But because of your great love, we can come back into right relationship with you again and again. Each time, O Lord, refine us more and more each time, recreating us each time just a little closer to the image of your son, Jesus. Amen.