Romans 6:1-11 (NRSV)
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Chapter 6What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? Verse 2By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Verse 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Verse 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Verse 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Verse 6We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. Verse 7For whoever has died is freed from sin. Verse 8But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Verse 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Verse 10The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Verse 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Devotion
Christ brings us life—but we are also baptized into his death. It is actually quite freeing to know that our old, false selves—that part of us that is twisted and distorted—have been buried with Christ’s death. But that also means that we, like him, have been raised from the dead. We too can live out of the new life he gives us. And, having been united with his death, we look forward to being united with him in a resurrection like his.
Prayer
Liberate us from our sinful selves. Give us a foretaste—even now—of what it means to live out of the power of your resurrection. Amen.