The Romance of Romans-Part 26

Romans Chapter 6

You have got to realize that as many of us who have been baptized into Jesus Christ have identified with him in his death and also in his burial and resurrection. Our baptism is like a burial of our old "sin and death" life that Jesus embodied on the cross. And just as Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of God, so also in baptism, we are raised up for the purpose of living by means of a new power source.
For God's intent in our dying and being buried with Christ is not to leave us lying powerless in the grave, but also to raise us with Jesus to live a transcendent life in him. Our old "sin and death" life was put out of commission through a mysterious co-crucifixion with Jesus. As a result, a life lived under the compulsion of our lower passions has passed away with a vengeance and such selfishness is no longer our master. We are dead and therefore liberated from the mandatory control of sin.

Comments:
In our ongoing struggle in dealing appropriately with our "flesh" (a rather complex word and subject), it is vital that we begin at the right place or from the right position. Something radical happened to our fallen human nature some 2,000 years ago...long before we were born. Jesus Christ appeared on the scene of human history...and died and rose again...so that we would be able to personally and freely receive the gift of a new nature that is in harmony with the Trinity. Our battle with temptations and sins must first be engaged by "believing" and "knowing" that Jesus has totally overcome sin and death on our behalf through what he has already accomplished.

There is a clearly defined pathway that leads us out of a life that is limited by self-concern and our attempts to transform ourselves into better persons. It begins by pausing long and hard enough to soak into our deep heart the good and great news of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. By this, a quiet strength seeps into our souls that then empowers us to successfully engage the battle to discover our truest self and, thereby, progressively grow into loving God and others well.