I would go so far as to say that Romans 6:2 is the most important verse in the Bible for believers in the evangelical churches to understand today. —James Montgomery Boice
SIN: The three letter word with “I” right in the middle. I think the fact that we find ourselves right in the middle of sin is what makes it all so difficult. If we are in Christ, sin just doesn’t “fit” in our life anymore. One writer calls sin a moment of “temporary insanity” in the life of a believer. Deep inside, the Spirit convicts us that sin is not consistent with who we are in Jesus… and it’s uncomfortable.
We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:2)
Is it possible that if we truly believe that we are “dead to sin,” we can break free from it? Paul’s writings in Romans 6 sure point in that direction! This is the fundamental premise of the entire chapter:
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. … The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:8, 10-11)
This is incredible stuff! How many of us try to fight with something already dead?! It doesn’t work very well, does it? But if we count ourselves “dead to sin,” we embrace the truth that our old, sinful self was crucified with Jesus, that we are born again, regenerated, and made alive in the Spirit of Christ. We are no longer in bondage to the control of indwelling sin in our lives. You can choose to walk in intimate dependency with Jesus moment by moment because He is in you! If you think you have no choice, you’ve been deceived by the evil one into thinking that.
My prayer is that you wouldn’t just hear, but you would actually own that truth! Consider a specific area of sin you might be struggling with right now, then offer this prayer declaring your freedom:
Holy Spirit, I need You now to take this truth from my head to my heart. Because I was crucified and buried with Christ, I proclaim that I am dead to this sin. Because You live in my spirit, I proclaim that I am alive to God in Jesus. I bow before You now. In my flesh, I am powerless. By abiding in You, I can do all things. I trust in You now to give me the willingness and the strength to follow You. Thank You. Thank You. Amen.