Dead to sin, Alive in Christ.

Romans 6:1,2. This section deals with the sanctification, the change God makes in our lives as we grow in the faith. If God loves to forgive, why not give him more to forgive? If forgiveness is guaranteed, do we have the freedom to sin as much as we want? Paul’s forceful answer is By no means! Such an attitude, deciding ahead of time to take advantage of God, shows that a person does not understand the seriousness of sin. God’s forgiveness does not make sin less serious, his son’s death for sin shows us the dreadful seriousness of sin. Jesus paid with his life so we could be forgiven. The availability of God’s mercy must not become an excuse for careless living and moral laxness.
Romans 6: 5. We can enjoy our new life in Christ because we are united with him in his death and resurrection. Our evil desires, our bondage to sin, and our love of sin died with him. Now united by Faith with him in his resurrection life, we have unbroken fellowship with God and freedom from sin’s hold on us.
Romans 6: 6. The power and penalty of sin died with Christ on the cross. Our ‘’old self’’, our sinful nature, died once and for all, so we are freed from it’s power. The ‘’body of sin’’ is not the human body, but our rebellious sin-loving nature inherited from Adam. Though our body willingly cooperates with our sinful nature, we must not regard the body as evil. It is the sin in us that is evil. And it is this power of sin at work in our body that is defeated. Paul has already stated that through Faith in Christ we stand acquitted, ‘’not guilty’’ before God. God does not take us out of the world or make us robots, we will still feel like sinning, and sometimes we will sin. The difference is that before we were saved we were slaves to our sinful nature, but now we can choose to live for Christ.
Romans 6:12. How can we keep this command to not let sin reign over us, to not give in to it’s desires? We can take the following steps: 1. Identify our personal weakness. 2. Recognize the things that tempt us. 3. Stay away from sources of temptation. 4. Practice self restraint. 5. Consciously invest our time in good habits and service. 6. Lean on God’s strength and grace.
Romans 6:13. The phrase ‘’instruments of wickedness’’ referred to a tool or a weapon. Our skills, capabilities, and bodies can serve many purposes, good or bad. In sin, every part of our bodies are vulnerable. In Christ, every part can be an instrument for service. It is the one to whom we offer our service that makes the difference. We are like lasers that can burn destructive holes in steel places or do delicate cataract surgery. Will you give yourself completely to God, asking him to put you to good use for his glory?


Prayer is more than something we do with our hands folded and our eyes closed.

Image reference:jesushats.com

GZ/KZ