by Rick Combs
Romans 6 begins a section discussing the sanctification of the believer. It is of importance that we notice the phrase – “even so we”. This presents the truth of our intimate oneness with the ascended glorified Christ. After all, He is the Head, and the believer is a member of the Body of Christ. Head and body are connected and work together as one.
Romans 6 starts at the beginning to set in place the foundation of the work of the Cross and the result of union with the crucified One Himself.
Looking at Romans 6:4-11, we see certain ‘unity’ phrases in the work of Jesus Christ.
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Notice the phrases that indicate our unity with Christ in His work on the Cross:
Like as Christ – even so we also – planted together – we shall be also – likeness – crucified with Him.
We are not onlookers of the crucifixion, but participants. Like as Christ, even so are we also. As believers, you and I are planted together in baptism by the Spirit unto the resurrection in His likeness because we were crucified with Him.
Continuing in verse 8…
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Dead with Christ – we shall also live with Him. Therefore, let us reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is more than a promise, it is reality!
Notice in verse 10 that Jesus died unto sin once. Likewise, we also died unto sin once. When we fail in our weak flesh, it is not necessary to confess and ask forgiveness a nauseum. Once is enough. We just go on knowing that we are dead to sin and thank God for His abounding Grace.
Paul, however, does not let us off the hook when we do fail in our flesh. Don’t let that be an excuse. He continues in verse 12 with this exhortation:
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
There is no excuse for being lazy and flirting with our flesh. We need to use our will and make wise decisions to “let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body”. Our body tempts us according to its’ lusts – strong desires. We are not to obey it.
We get better and better at this over the course of our life if we increase in the knowledge of Paul’s mystery revelation and grow unto maturity. Paul continues this exhortation with some details.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This is possible because we are no longer under the system of the law, but under the system of Grace. The law did not make it possible to obey it. Under Grace though, we have the capacity to obey since the law is fulfilled within us. We are new creatures in Christ.