Romans 6:4-11 - 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. 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.

In this passage from Romans 6, Paul teaches about the new life we have in Christ after being united with Him in His death and resurrection through baptism. Just as Jesus died and was raised to new life, so we who believe in Him spiritually die to sin and are raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Our old self was crucified with Christ so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. For we have died with Christ and so have been set free from sin's control and condemnation. And just as Christ was raised from the dead never to die again, so we too now live a new resurrection life in and with Him, dead to sin and alive to God. This is the incredible gift of new life we have received in our union with Christ.

What an amazing truth! Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins, we who believe in Him have died and been raised to new life along with Him. We are no longer captive and condemned due to sin, but are free in Christ to live a holy life pleasing to God. This is possible because our old sinful self has been crucified and we now have a new nature that delights in righteousness rather than sin. Praise God for this liberating gift! Yet practically speaking, we must live in light of this new identity. We must 'consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus', as Paul exhorts. We must continually remind ourselves that we are not who we once were, slaves to sin, but are now children of God empowered by the Spirit to resist temptation and obey our Father. Let us then yield ourselves to Him today as those alive from the dead, presenting our bodies as instruments of righteousness rather than instruments of wickedness. Our new life in Christ enables us to walk in freedom and holiness by the power of the Spirit. Hallelujah!

Gracious God, we praise You for the new life You have given us through the death and resurrection of Your Son. Thank You that we have died to sin and now walk in newness of life with You. Empower us by Your Spirit to live consistent with this new identity. May we daily consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to You, yielding ourselves as instruments of righteousness, so that Your resurrection life shines brightly through us. To Your glory we pray, Amen.