Introduction
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11
We all have sin that easily entangles us (Hebrews 12:1), but as believers, we don’t want to live in sin. We want to be mastered by Christ, not our sin (Romans 6:14). But this begs the question, how can we throw off the sins that hinder us in our daily walk? How can we overcome sins that we’ve dealt with for much of our lives?
In Romans 6, we find that our death with Christ means freedom from the power of sin. God established a union between believers and Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30) so that God counts Christ’s death on the cross as our death. If we would lay aside the sin that frustrates us, we must believe ourselves dead to it. We must see ourselves hanging on the cross with Jesus and buried in the tomb with Jesus. That is, our old person, our old self, died on the cross and was buried. Now we respond to sin’s temptations differently, for we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God.
When we die physically, our bodies become unresponsive to stimuli. Likewise, because of our union with Christ in His death and resurrection, we consider ourselves dead to sin and unresponsive to it. Picture yourself in a casket, and then see someone laying temptations to sin all around that casket; how would you respond? Dead people do not respond to stimuli. “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11
This is what we are demonstrating when we submit to water baptism; we go under the water as a symbol of being buried with Christ. Burial is for the dead. Our old self died, our old identity died, our old labels died, our old way of living died! And we rise a new creation, united with Christ in all of life.
And while death is usually considered a sad thing, for us who believe, our spiritual death is a happy event because it means we are now hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3). Our death in Christ means safety and sanctification for us. It means that the world, the flesh, and the devil have no claim on our hearts, minds, or bodies. We are no longer living in sin; we are dead to sin. We are dead to the world’s allurements. We are dead to our past life. We are dead to old labels that were placed on us. This is the wonderfully good news of the beautiful, terrible cross: we died with Christ!
Galatians 6:14 (NIV) May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Illustration
The Israelites were set free from slavery through the death of the Passover Lamb, but then they immediately came to the Red Sea. As God performed a miracle and parted the sea for them, they walked through on dry ground, a wall of water on the left and the right.
Notice what the Israelites passing through the Red Sea is called in the New Testament:
“For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 (NIV)
Yes, baptism! The fact that the Israelites were “baptized” as they passed through the Red sea meant, for them, that they died to their old life of slavery. And when they rose out of the waters on the other side, they entered into a new life of freedom. They died to their old identity, their old life, their entire past. Not only did the Passover Lamb die for them, they, themselves, “died” and “rose” again. They would no longer see themselves as slaves but as God’s children. They would no longer have a harsh taskmaster over them; they were free!
At the cross, you died to your old life of slavery and rose with Jesus to a new life of freedom. See yourself dead to sin and your past life, dear friend, for that is where the freedom is. Now, see yourselves alive to God, responsive to Him, walking with Him daily.
“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 — because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” Romans 6:6-7 (NIV)
Application
Oh, friend, your death with Christ is such good news! When sin comes knocking on your heart’s door, you are no longer obligated to answer, because you are dead to it. You have died with Christ on His cross; you have been buried with Him in the tomb. You have been raised with Him to a new life!
Are you struggling with greed—wanting more, more, more? Come to the cross of Christ and see yourself as dying with Him. See yourself giving up your spirit so that you might be filled with the Spirit of the Living God who satisfies with good things (Psalm 103:5).
Are you struggling with overwhelming sorrow? Come to Christ and see that He carried your sorrows in His body on the tree (Isaiah 53:4). You and your grief died with Christ, so you no longer grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). You are united with the One who brings life and renewal to places that were once defined by darkness and death (Isaiah 58:11). Come and live in the light of His presence (Psalm 89:15, Ephesians 4:8) so that your joy will be restored (Psalm 51:12).
Does your flesh trouble you and clamor to be gratified? Run to the cross of Christ, friend, look up, and see your flesh united to the Lamb of God wounded and dying and then dead. Watch as they bury Christ and your flesh with Him in the tomb. Do you see it? Your body of death is dead! Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has delivered you (Romans 7:24-25)! You are free from sin’s penalty through Jesus’ death on the cross and are being freed from sin’s power (Romans 6:7). You have risen with Christ to a new life, and God has given you saving grace that teaches you “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives…” today!
Yes, we can still be tempted, even Jesus was tempted in every way that we are. But, you can consider yourself dead to sin because God has united you with Christ in His death. “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” Romans 6:12-13
Question: How does looking to Jesus and His cross, help you see yourself as dead to sin?
Dawn writes, “He who has died has been freed from sin!” The only way to be free from sin is through death. I died with Christ resulting in my death which in turn frees me from sins power. Christ has put His resurrected Spirit inside me resulting in righteousness. Thank you, Father!”
Joe writes, “I remember the years of slavery to sin. When a temptation came along, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I gave in to it. I remember thinking, should I just indulge the flesh now and get it over with, or wait until it gains strength and I fall in a much worse way. By seeing myself as dead to sin and this free from sins dominion, I can see that I don’t have to respond to the temptation at all. I am no longer the same person. Not only is that person dead, but this new creature is alive to God, filled with His Spirit, and has escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Pet. 1:4).”
Kim writes, “Visualizing my death with Jesus on the cross and being buried with Him is helpful because there is a finality to the power of sin & a freedom to walk in obedience by the power of the indwelling Spirit. I want to become more like my Savior as I now visualize walking with Him hand & hand through each day giving Him glory with my decisions.”
Jeromy writes, “Amen, this is a truth in God’s word that, oddly enough, I am truly just beginning to grasp deep in my soul but still struggle with or forget from time to time or as the day tarrys on. But Yes, I look to the cross, nail my sins to the cross of Jesus, am cleansed by His blood and see myself crucified and buried with Christ, amen!! And what a wonderful glory it is to be dead to my old self and alive in Jesus Christ! Halleluiah!”
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.