Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ: Living Out Romans 6

Summary

Romans 6 teaches that believers were united with Christ in His death, freeing them from sin’s authority. Although this death to self is not recorded on any certificate, God declares it already accomplished. True life begins when we identify with that death and trust Christ’s resurrection power daily. Sin may still issue commands, but believers no longer must obey them. God’s power, not feelings, enables a transformed, God-centered life.

Late for Our Spiritual Funeral

A boxer was late for everything. His mother said he would be late for his funeral. He was. He missed the plane that crashed without survivors on March 14, 1980. It was carrying the USA boxing team to Poland for a competition.

In a spiritual sense, many of us Christians are late for our funeral. “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death” (Romans 6:3 NIV).

United With Christ in Death

Those who God baptized into Christ’s death must identify themselves with it. No one officially records that death to self-centered living on any death certificate. But God says it already happened when His Son died on the cross.

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6). God did it almost 2,000 years ago to free us from sin’s slavery.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

We have already died. Acknowledging the funeral is up to us. Doing so always precedes real life. We are dead to sin and alive in Christ.

Imagine a talking corn seed. When the farmer plants it, it says, “I do not want to be a cornstalk. I have to be me!”

Unless it dies to itself and becomes something else, it will never be fruitful. Neither will we. Corn seed dies to itself and takes on a different outward appearance before it produces more corn seed.

As new Christians, we look the same on the outside. Our death to self-centered living reveals itself through loving words, attitudes, and actions.

The power to be different on the inside is “through the glory of the Father” (Romans 6:4). The glorious power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to power our God-centered way of life. God’s power flows through Christ into us. He grafted us into Him (Romans 6:5).

Freed From Sin’s Authority

God’s goal is that we should no longer be slaves to sin (Romans 6:6). From God’s perspective, we sinned in Adam, and we died when Jesus did. We are no longer sin’s servants.

We do not have to obey a sergeant’s commands if we are not in the army. Sin still yells, “Attention!” We do not have to obey it!

God has redeemed and rewired us! All the circuits to please Him and be a light to the world are in place.

Does it often seem like you are not dead to sin? Does it still intimidate you? The problem is that we are still listening to the barking sergeant. We are no longer under his authority. We are dead to his voice.

Living by Resurrection Power

God crucified the old self. God’s word is truer than our feelings. Moment by moment, we escape sin’s rule by trusting the same power that raised Jesus from the dead to overcome it. See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.

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God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 7,590 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 17,861 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.  

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