Dead to Sin and Alive to God

Readings:
Ezra 6
Romans 6:7-11

Focus:
Romans 6:11: "In the same way you must also regard yourselves as dead to sin and alive to God, in union with Christ Jesus."

When we have given our lives to Christ, we have become identified with him in his death and resurrection. Because we are identified with him, then it is as if our old nature had been crucified, in order that it should no longer be a slave to sin.

Because that's what life is like for us without Christ. Without him, we are slaves to sin. Even when we have given ourselves to him, it is hard enough not to sin. We fall down again and again, and need to ask for forgiveness.

But because of our identification with Christ, we are given the grace to experience the power of the resurrection in our lives now. We have the confidence that we will ultimately overcome our shortcomings and, at the end of our lives, live eternally with God. God's power cannot fail. We are alive to God, in union with Christ Jesus.