What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? [2] By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? [3] Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. [5] 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. [6] 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. [7] For one who has died has been set free from sin. [8] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. [10] For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:1-11 A change has happened in us. Did you know that? Paul is speaking to believers of course, that we have been changed by Christ. Once we were dead in our sins, now we are alive in Christ. Once we walked in darkness, now we walk in the light of Christ. Once we were not a people, now we are God's people. These are words that my congregation heard last Sunday. They are words that apply to all believers, because a change has occured in us. In our baptisms, Paul writes, we become united with Jesus, into His death and resurrection. This happens so that we can "walk in newness of life." A NEW LIFE! That sounds wonderful. But quite often, people read this text and think that the Christian life will be one without pain, suffering, sorrow, heartache, tragedy or any other maladies. And then we become perplexed when we find out that this is not the case--either from personal experience, or witnessing these things happening to other Christians. Then what do we do? The temptation is there to think that being a Christian doesn't matter, that our lives are no different than those who do not believe in Christ.
But Paul assures us in this text that this is not true. We are different. We are changed, and for the better. The thing is we still live in a sinful, and sin-damaged world. It is a daily battle to be in the world, but not of the world. How is that accomplished?
We live in this sinful world, but are not OF the world, when we uphold God's Word, when we "walk"/live in His ways, and when we know and DO His will. Now (as those who are baptized into Christ's death and resurrection) more than ever, we have the desire to live our lives in Christ. We WANT to follow God's commands of what to do and what not to do, instead of following the world, and its ideas and its ways. Our lives take a decidedly different path turning away from sin, and toward God. This is why the message of repentance was-is-and always will be so important for us.
May we all, with the help of God, appreciate the new lives we have been given in Christ, and walk in the light of the Lord all our days!
Thanks for reading, and God bless you in your walk with Him!
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