Romans 6:1-11 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Do you desire to experience the fullness of the new life Jesus died to give you? We may be tempted to respond, “Absolutely! Preach it, Pastor Mary! Bring it on, Jesus!” Yet, when it comes right down to it, most of the time we are fearful of the new life, because it involves so many challenges, changes, and risks. Have I nailed it?
It helps us deal with fear as we lay it along side the Truth of God’s Word; we must nail fear to the cross with everything else the enemy tries to use to rob us of new life. So, let’s remind one another of a few things, today, that should stir our faith and move us forward with the Spirit. Believers belong to Christ; we have died to the sins of the flesh and have been baptized and raised to new life. This is what it means to be “in Christ.” We have spiritually shared in his death and resurrection. Our list of sinful deeds against God have been washed away. Now, we focus on the life we were originally created to live with God; a life of communion, blessing, and abundant spiritual resources. Jesus makes this new life possible and now we live life under the guidance of God with Whom nothing is impossible. Let that soak in, friend! If God lives in you, what do you need to fear? What can’t you overcome?
Romans 6:1-11 Dead to Sin but Alive because of Christ
6 What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God’s wonderful kindness will show up even better? 2 No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? 3 Don’t you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? 4 When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.
5 If we shared in Jesus’ death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. 6 We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. 7 We know that sin doesn’t have power over dead people.
8 As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him. 9 We know that death no longer has any power over Christ. He died and was raised to life, never again to die. 10 When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God. 11 In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power you bring to my life when I am determined to live for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.