Yesterday as we continued in our series through Romans, I was able to preach Romans 6:8-11. As Paul explained the reality of the believer’s death in Christ (we are crucified with Christ) and subsequent burial, he goes on to explain the meaning of what it means to be raised to walk in newness of life. The Christian life is a resurrected life.
In short, that means that we are transformed by the power of God and the new birth causes us to be raised into a new life that is marked by our union with Christ. This new life is different than the life we once lived through our union with Adam. The old things have now been passed away and we now live a life that honors God.
We were born in bondage to sin. This bondage provided us freedom to exercise human depravity. Our depraved human life provided us freedom, but not freedom that leads to righteousness.
- Free to disobey God.
- Free to hate God.
- Free to walk according to the prince of the power of the air.
- Free to dishonor God.
- Free to ignore God and focus on self.
- Free to serve the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Only through the new birth were we given true freedom in Christ. This spiritual resurrection results in a life of freedom to live to the glory of God. The truth of the gospel gave us freedom in Christ (John 8:32-36). In Christ, through his work of redemption, we are freed from this bondage and now we enjoy true freedom to glorify God.
- Free to live in obedience to God.
- Free to love God.
- Free to walk with God.
- Free to honor God.
- Free to obey God.
- Free to worship God.
- Free to serve God.
The new Christian life is a resurrected life. We live between the already and the not yet. Not only do we have a new life with Christ in this present age, but we will one day live with Christ in his visible presence in glory. The future return of Christ – that great eschatological hope – is what we long for each day as a believer. One day we will enjoy a resurrected body that will dwell in the very presence of our God (1 Cor. 15:22; Rev. 21).
Because of this truth, we overcome sin. Christ died once – and will never die again. His death and resurrection provides true victory and we as his children should walk in a manner that overcomes sin. The response of the Christian life is connected to Jesus’ work. Paul now sums up all of this grand theology by demonstrating how we respond to God (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 4:22-24).
It’s the work of God that produces a change, but we are called to strive for holiness. That is the calling of the Christian life.
Hebrews 12:14 – Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
