Romans 6:1–11 // Alive to God // Josh Hamm
We have entered into a “death and life” situation! Not “life and death” – but “death and life”! The difference here is everything according to Paul in Romans 6.
Before we knew Jesus it was truly “life and death.” What I mean is, our life always had death looming over it, lingering behind the curtain while we danced on the stage called life. When might the curtain drop and our show end? Perhaps we learned to ignore it and lived distractedly to numb the pain of it, but no matter hard we might have tried to distance ourselves from it, death is never that far away. Our lives are like grass the Bible says, one day thriving, and the next day gone. But what’s worse – the real reason our lives were “life and death” – is that with death comes judgment for sin. God is so holy he cannot accept even the slightest infraction to His unstained glory. One lie – one arrogant thought – one selfish deed – would bar us from Him and His dwelling forever. And we have mountains of such sins. I cannot imagine a situation more dire than the one we were in: Life now – but death (and judgment) to come.
But that’s not how it is anymore. For those in Christ Jesus a great reversal has taken place. For you and I, it is now “death and life!” Notice Romans 6:4. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Our story is death now – but life to come! But what does that mean, death now? And why does it matter? What Paul explains in this passage is that when we are united to Christ by faith the sinful part of us dies– it dies because Christ died. And because Christ now lives we also will live too. As death no longer has dominion over Jesus – it also has no dominion over us! You’ve been made alive to God! And your future is secure – you will be raised to life again.
Why does this matter today? For Paul in Romans 6 this is the reason we could never tolerate an attitude that uses grace as an excuse to continue sinning. We should never think sin is okay because grace will abound! No. Christ died for that. And we died with Him. So, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (v11).” This is our focus for this 39th day of Lent. It involves two actions:
1) Count yourself dead to sin. When you are tempted today tell your mind, this doesn’t own me any longer. What more, don’t feed the old life – starve it. Is there an environment, an influence, or a rhythm that needs to change for that to happen? Don’t take it lightly. John Owen once wrote, “be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”
2) Count yourself alive to God. Believe what God has now said about you: You’ve been seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph 2:6). You are hidden in Him (Col 3:3). Nothing can separate you from His love (Rom 8:38-39). Additionally, being alive to God means being aware of what He is doing in and around you. Ask God to show you what He is doing and what your step of faith looks like!
Question to Consider
We are dead to sin – the things we used to use for evil are now set apart for His purposes. You’re alive to God! How can your hands, your eyes, your feet –your calendar – be an instrument you offer for His purpose today?
Prayer Prompt
As you enter God’s presence today, go with a joyful noise – for the great reversal that is yours in Christ – no longer life to death, but death to life! Because you’re now alive to Him ask God to make you aware of how you can truly live for Him today.
