Romans 6:5-6: For If We Have Been United With Him In A Death Like His

Romans 6:5–6
[5] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] 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. (ESV)

One of the greatest stumbling blocks for people in coming to faith in Jesus Christ is their belief in their own basic goodness. Men want to think that they are not that bad. They certainly are not as bad as those who populate the local jail. They are better than their neighbor and somehow that qualifies them for God's approval.

As you look closely at the two verses we have before us today one thing becomes very clear. Our natural self was so sinful that we not only had to have it done away with, it needed to be crucified with Jesus Christ. Crucifixion was not just any death. It was the most gruesome, painful, humiliating way for any man to die.

Our sinful nature needed to be killed in the most demonstrative way possible. Our sin is that repulsive to God the Father. We do a great disservice to the truth when we act as if there is any goodness in our own nature. We are not saved because we are so clever and an act of our will gave us right relationship with God.

We identify with the death of Christ. That means that we acknowledge the very sinfulness of our own nature, agreeing that our sin made us deserving of death. Thankfully, Christ's work on the cross not only puts to death our old self, but it gives us the promise of a resurrection like the Savior's. We have a new life and an eternal future. All of this is possible because of the cross.

How good do you think you are? Good enough to deserve crucifixion? Identify with Christ and the cross. Be thankful that your sinful nature can be put to death and you can be raised to new life by faith in the Son of God.

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

Search This Blog