Crucified, Buried, and Raised with Christ

1) Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2) Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3) Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4) For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5) Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6) We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7) For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8) And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9) We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10) When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11) So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. 12) Do not let sin control the way you live;[a] do not give in to sinful desires. 13) Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14) Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. ~Romans 6: 1-14 (NLT)

Think back to when you received Christ as your Savior ( hopefully/prayerfully you have). You knew your life had changed but probably had no idea about everything that the salvation experience involved. You were declared righteous and sealed with the Holy Spirit, and God wrote your name in the Lamb's Book of Life. But that wasn't all. You were also crucified, buried, and raised with Christ.

This describes your position in God's eyes, but what does it all mean? Paul tells us that "our old self was crucified with [Christ]" (v. 6). The person you are today is not who you were before salvation. Your old sin nature has died with Christ, which means that its power over you has been broken. Paul isn't saying we'll never transgress again, but now we don't have to be enslaved to sin. Since we've been raised with Christ, He's living within us, giving us the power to live obediently.

Our Father's goal for us is that we become in practice what we are positionally. Many believers attempt to live the Christian life in their own strength by trying harder to overcome sin and live righteously. However, the crucified life is about a life replacement, not self-effort. Christ wants His life to flow through us so that we become living extensions of almighty God.

Every believer has been positionally identified with Christ's death and resurrection, but the only ones who will experience this in a daily manner are those who are willing to die to themselves and let Christ live through them. Jesus wants to be more than your Lord; He wants to be your very life.
 
(Via Charles Stanley)
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn