I was a slave
Dominated. Defeated. Hopeless. I had no choice but to sin. It was my master.
I died
I was baptized
When I acknowledge my separation from God, and asked Him to be Lord of this sinner’s heart, I was given the Holy Spirit—God came to live inside of me. He baptized me and sealed me as His own.
I was buried
It was in His burial and resurrection that Christ displayed His power over sin. Through the baptism of the Spirit, in that first moment of grace-led faith when I entered into the Kingdom of God, I was baptized into His death and burial.
I have been given new life!
I was joined with Christ not only in His death and burial, but also in His resurrection! I have been brought from death to life. I have been enabled to walk in newness of life.
I have been set free!
I have been set free from the slavery of sin. It no longer my ruler. My chains are gone. I now have a choice to walk in obedience.
I have been given a purpose!
I am to be a tool for righteousness, to bring glory to the one who holds me in His hands. I have been made alive to God.
Applying the truth
Romans 6:1-14 is filled with deep, deep truths. But these truths were not meant for us to read and nod in approval. They are to transform our living. It is in knowing who we are in Christ, and what we’ve been through with Him (burial, death, and resurrection) that we can begin to hope for any change in our lives.
Change comes only through the work of Christ on our behalf. The work we need to focus on is in believing:
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11
It is finished
With His dying breaths Christ said, “It is finished.” Do you believe that? That your sin nature is dead? That there is nothing left to do to obtain right-standing with God? That God sees you through the perfection and obedience of Christ?
It is in abiding—remaining in Christ and resting in His completed work on our behalf—that we experience fruit in our lives. It is not in trying harder, but through pursuing Jesus and allowing Him to bear fruit in us.
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17 ESV)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24 ESV)
What did you see this week in Romans 6? Have you seen the fruit of the Spirit more evident in your life over the last few months, as you’ve leaned into Him as your source?
Yay! This news is enough to start out my week with JOY!
Such great news in this post, Katie. We can know we live a new life because of Christ’s work.
Paul presents so many strong arguments in Romans 6 (and in chapter 8) that we have died to the flesh and live in the Spirit. I want to grab hold of that more and more. I’m free from making a total mess of things because sin doesn’t control me; the Spirit does. I live under grace, not rules.
But I still need to believe it deeper, better. I pray for greater faith to KNOW that He is stronger in me than my will to sin is.
“I live under grace, not rules.” ” I pray for greater faith to KNOW that He is stronger in me than my will to sin is.”
Yes! I want this to sink in so deeply…that I consider it true for me!
These last 12 weeks have been a true blessing to me. I have enjoyed the MYM challenge and can’t wait for the next one. Every day I read my bible, I learn more and more and am seeing his Fruits in my life. I know I have much to learn, but the foundation that has been laid these last 12 weeks is sure and sound. I feel my spiritual walk was dormant for too long. it has taken on this challenge and now growing and building. Thank you to all who have been encouragements
Thank you for sharing this, Amy! What a joy to see His faithful leading in your life. Isn’t it so fun to experience His through His Word?
Your encouraging words are a gift!
I have absolutely loved this Bible study. It was easy to follow, was not overwhelming, focussed on truths in the Word, and I loved how everything tied together to the one truth that we need to “Abide”. I looked forward to the commentaries every Monday as well as they helped to clarify anything that was still fuzzy! It has been wonderful abiding with women all over and this time has truly brought me closer to my Saviour. Thanks so much for all of the hard work that was put into this. You all have truly blessed me.
I love how your broke down each part of this passage to show us where we were and who we are now! This was such a great study. I love the commentaries. I finished way back in December, but I wanted to write down truths from the blog in my notes. This blog has really brought me back to center with God.
Thanks, Shonda! So glad you are enjoying it. It is fun to know even the old posts are being used. :)