“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.” Romans 6:6,7 (ESV)

Romans chapter 6 reminds me that I am dead to sin. However, there are times, too numerous to count, when I don’t think my sin is dead. I am perfectly aware of my sin and it seems to be very much alive. Only when I focus on the finished work of Christ on the cross am I able to understand that I died with Christ and have been raised with Him. We forget so easily. We are always thinking that sin has the upper hand all the time. Andrew Murray writes, “The new life in us is an actual participation in and experience of the risen life of Christ. Our death to sin in Christ is also a spiritual reality.”

Someone once said that they offer themselves as a living sacrifice and living things get up and walk off the altar. How is it that we can be alive and be dead? It can seem that our flesh has a hard time dying. Are you and I only trying to beat it down, injure it enough in hopes that it won’t get up again, or giving up altogether? You and I will battle our flesh as long as we are on this earth. Our sin, not our flesh, has died. The truth is that Christ has paid for all of it and that is our new reality. I wonder if we really believed this truth that our fighting might get a bit easier. Would you and I experience more freedom from sin if we would only believe the facts? While my flesh is often only mostly dead, my sin IS dead!

“So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 (ESV)

Blessings,
Kathy

Kathy’s on staff at America’s Keswick in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 28 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and has taught Sunday school and Bible studies for women. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.