Romans 6:5-7

Passage

For if we have become associated by likeness with his death, we will also be of the resurrection while knowing this: that our old humanity was being crucified in order that the body of sin should be done away and we are no longer enslaved to sin.  For the one who died has been set free from sin.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Resurrection.  It’s a beautiful concept.  It is our hope to be raised as Christ was raised into a new life.  It’ll be a life where our sinfulness has been done away.  It’ll be a life of no tears, no sorrow, no grief, and no death.  It will be a wonderful life.  It is a life that begins with our association to Christ in His death.  Our new life ultimately begins with His death.

How willing are you to be associated with Christ in the life to come?  How willing are you to be associated with Christ as He embraces the cross?  How willing are you to follow God – even if it leads to sacrifice?

Second Thought:

Speaking of sacrifice, Paul tells us that our old humanity was crucified.  Literally, the word crucified means to affix with nails.  Our old self has been nailed to the cross with Christ.  We are to be a new creation.  We are to be willing to release our old self and embrace the new creation that was won for us on the cross.

What does it mean to you to think of your old self as crucified?  What does it mean to you to look forward to a new creation?  What characteristics does the new creation have within you?

Third Thought:

Set free.  This is another interesting concept.  Most – if not all – Christians probably don’t feel like we’ve been set free from sin.  But Paul gives us a secret to feeling like we’ve been set free.  The one who has died has been set free.  So long as we still care about the things of the flesh, we haven’t died to them.  As long as we haven’t died to the things of the flesh, we are not set free.  Want to be set free from sin? Learn to die to the desires and designs of the flesh.

Are you set free?  When do you feel set free the most?  When do you struggle with dying to the desires of the flesh?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 6:8-11