Romans 6:1-4. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Scripture says that all have sinned and fall short of the glorious standard of God. Everyone has lost the special place God created for them—a place in Him. This is why people, knowingly or not, are constantly trying to return to that lost place through their own efforts. They turn to religion, moral behavior, success, and the ways of this world. But no matter how hard they try, it does not restore what was lost. Deep down, they feel insecure because they have lost the unique identity God gave them. They live without direction because they no longer remember the purpose for which they were created.
People have fallen for the same deception the serpent used in the beginning: “You will be like God.” As a result, they chase after a false image of themselves—a distorted identity the devil has erected in their hearts and minds. Because of the original sin into which all were born, sin controls their behavior. They live by their desires, and their bodies become instruments of sin. They are trapped under the demands of the law of sin and death, enslaved without knowing how to be free.
The only way to break the chains of sin is through death. That is what happened at the cross. When Jesus died, Scripture says our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be destroyed and we would no longer be slaves to sin. This was the only way to end sin’s mastery over us. There was no other solution.
When you believe in Jesus as the Christ, you are united with Him. His death becomes your death. His burial becomes your burial. His resurrection becomes your resurrection. Your True King, Jesus, who came to destroy the devil’s work, is now with you. You no longer belong to the rule of sin and death. Your True Priest, Jesus, who removed the curse of sin, is with you. Because of the cross, God now sees you as holy and blameless. You have been made right with God, and there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Your True Prophet, Jesus, who opened a new and living way to the Father, is also with you. You no longer live under the shadow of hell, but you have entered into a new life in the kingdom of God.
If you are still struggling with sin, shame, and guilt, remember what Jesus said on the cross: “It is finished.” The root of sin and its power in your life has already been dealt with. Jesus knew you would never be able to overcome sin on your own, so He endured the cross for you. He bore the full weight of sin so that you would not grow weary or lose heart.
Do not depend on your feelings. Your emotions do not determine who you are in Christ. Fix your eyes on Jesus. You have been united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. Your old self is finished. You are no longer under the law, but under grace.
Make Jesus the Lord over every area of your life and live by faith in Him alone. He will guide you, strengthen you, and enable you to overcome the world. You will live the life God designed for you to live—full and abundant. God will soon crush Satan under your feet. He will raise you to a spiritual summit where you will be used to save your family, your school, your workplace, and the next generation through the power of the gospel.
Prayer. Father, thank You for giving Your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins and for raising Him from the dead to make me right with You. By His death, You destroyed the stronghold of Satan in my life, and by His resurrection, You gave me the identity of Your child and authority in the name of Jesus over all the forces of darkness. Fill me with power from Your throne so I may offer my life as an instrument of righteousness in my spiritual battle. May the resurrection power of Jesus Christ be upon me today and always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.