Making Sense of Being "Dead to Sin, Alive to God" (Romans 6:4-11)

Let's begin by examining the flow of this passage. In v 4, Paul informs us that our being baptized into Christ shows the spiritual union that we share with Christ in His death and resurrection. The practical result of this enables us to walk in newness of life! Verse 5 continues in supporting and making clear what we read in verse 4. In v 6-7, Paul details the first part of verse 5, showing that being united with Christ enables us to no longer be slaves to sin. In v 8-10, Paul details the last part of verse 5, showing that the Christ follower will also live with Christ. Paul explains the death and resurrection of Christ to show that our union with Him points to a break with sin and new life with God. In v 11, Paul makes application of these in Christ realities: "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." These verses are vital to the Christ follower because the aim of Paul's teaching is that we'd live as victors over, and not victims of the sin nature! We are to understand and embrace that Jesus' death and resurrection not only paid the penalty for our sin, but also provided the enablement necessary to overcome the sin nature daily! In other words, Christ followers do not have to live under the hard, oppressive control of sin as we once did. Why? Because we're no longer in Adam, but in "The last Adam" who is none other than Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45)! In "the first man, Adam," we were dead in trespasses and sin. In "The last Adam," we're dead to trespasses and sin, and alive to God! The last Adam is the basis of our new identity and with respect to overcoming the sin nature, that makes all the difference in the world! Acting on this information empowers us to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Your move. Be encouraged!