Romans 6:5-11

                                                                 Romans 6:5-11

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

 

All that is accomplished in our lives in the spiritual realm is accomplished in Christ.  He died and rose again so that sin and death could be defeated.  His victory is our victory.  By faith we are set free from sin and can live lives that are no longer under the control of Satan.  We are who we are because of what Christ has done and our identity in Him

 

WE ARE UNITED WITH CHRIST: One of the most important truths in all of Theology is that we are united with Christ through our faith in Him.  When we trust Christ, we identify with Him in both His death and resurrection. Since we died with Christ we were also raised with Christ.  His death is our death, and His life is our life.  This is important for us to both know and consider in the process of seeking to be sanctified.  It is not enough to know things intellectually without considering them to be true in our lives.

 

WE ARE LIBERATED BY CHRIST: The theological truth about our being identified with Christ simply means that we are liberated from sin.  We have died to sin.  The old man that was corrupted by sin was crucified with Christ on the cross.  He no longer has any power over us because he is dead.  Before we trust Christ to rescue us from sin, we are enslaved to sin.  Even the “good things” we try to do are marred by sin.  Sin permeated every motive, thought and action.  From man’s perspective we may seem to be moral and good. From God’s perspective we were in bondage to sin and living as His eternal enemies.

 

WE ARE MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST: Not only does Christ liberate us from sin by forgiving us and releasing us from the power of sin over us; He also gives us a new life.  We are raised with Christ from the dead to walk in a new way of life.  This new and eternal life is only possible through faith in Christ.  It is the promise of the resurrection.  Since Jesus, who took all our sin upon Himself, is seated at the right hand of the Father in perfect communion; we have a certain hope of an eternity in Hs presence completely without sin and its consequences.

 

APPLICATION: Never forget that we are united with Christ in both His death and resurrection.  Thank about the implications of that truth on our lives each morning as we order our day.  Do not believe that there is some area of sin we are powerless to defeat.  We have been set free from the dominating power of sin!  Rejoice in the hope we have of an eternity in Christ.

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