Romans 6

In two of my classes, we've been focusing on Romans 6.  In one, we are meant to memorize verses 1-14 before the end of the semester.  At first, I thought this was a chore.  Then we spent an entire class period delving into what it means, and my mind was blown!  Our assignment was to re-write Romans 6:1-14 in words of our own, and since that is a quicker way to share my thoughts, here, look!  A wild seminary assignment appears!

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“In light of what I've just said, what is the appropriate response? Should we go on living as though we are under the rule of sin as if that would increase the grace of God? Of course not! We were completely changed—we are no longer under the power of sin. How could we act as though we are still the same, still helplessly under the domination of sin? Isn't it obvious that when we identified ourselves with Christ Jesus, we identified ourselves with him entirely, including his death to the power of sin? If that is the case, and it is, we were changed with him by identifying our life with his. As a result, we have been born into a new kind of life, just as Christ was resurrected from death into life by the glorious power of the Father.

Logically, then, if we identify ourselves with one part of Christ's life, namely, his reversal of the power of sin, then we will identify ourselves with the whole of Christ's life, which includes his resurrection. We know that the power of Christ's death changed us totally, shifting the power over us from sin to God. We are no longer the same, living under the power and domination of sin. We are no longer powerless against sin!

Once we have been freed from the power of sin by identifying with Christ's death, we are free to identify with his resurrection life as well. If Christ broke the power of sin by dying and living again, the game is over. Sin has no chance of exerting any power over him. Through his victory defeating the power of sin, the rest of us no longer have to fear it either, because sin has no chance of overpowering us. 

So what do we do now? We ought to remind ourselves daily that sin has no power over us any longer because of Christ Jesus. So don't give in to temptations and live as though nothing has changed. Your life and your body is no longer made to serve sin and wickedness; you are made to serve God, to live righteously. In this way, you demonstrate the power of Christ in conquering the power of sin. So don't worry. Sin has no power over you. You are ruled by grace.”