In earlier lessons, we rejoiced that the death of Jesus Christ brings us life. Today, we want to examine how the death of Jesus Christ puts us to death. Our death does not, at first, seem like good news, but as we study, it will become to us sweet and good news indeed.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans 6:1-5
Question 1. What does it mean that Christians "have been united with him in His death"?
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Christians have been "united with Jesus in death." What this means is that our entire old selfish, sin-loving nature was crucified with Jesus Christ on the cross, and it no longer lives. The death of Christ put to death my old self, my entire past, and my whole identity as a sinner. What a gift!
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Question 2. Paul was physically alive when he wrote in Galatians 2:20 that he had been crucified with Christ. How can that be?
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Paul meant that his old nature, his "old man," the unconverted Paul, was crucified with Christ on the cross. Not only did Jesus Christ die for Paul, but Paul also died in Him. And now Jesus lived in Paul. The same is true for us who believe.
"An old missionary had long lived a defeated Christian life. In his despair, his eyes fell upon the words, "Christ lives in me." "What," he said, "is Christ actually living in me?" He jumped up,--solid Presbyterian though he was,--and danced round and round his table, saying, "Christ lives in me! Christ lives in me!" When he realized that he was actually indwelt by the Crucified One, he came into blessed emancipation from the old self-life.
The life that is identified with Christ will be a life of sufficiency and fullness and victory. While it must not be confused with a life of emotion or of feelings, it is a life filled with "all joy and peace in believing." We must learn not to live in our feelings, for these are often misleading. The Lord Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." L.E. Maxwell
How can we understand this truth that we died with Christ? We can understand it in the same way the sin of Adam was "imputed" to each one of his children. We were in Adam when he sinned. As our federal head and representative, when Adam sinned, we sinned. In the same manner, Jesus Christ is our Federal Head, our Representative, and when He died, we died in Him.
“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
In earlier lessons, we examined the truth that Romans 5 teaches us about the death of Jesus on our behalf, and of our being justified by faith in Him. Now we move forward into Romans 6 to see the believer's identification with Christ's death. In Romans 5, it is Christ's death for us; in chapter 6, it is our death with Christ. Christ's death for us in chapter 5 is foundational and essential, but it is in chapter 6 where we learn that our justification is not a mere formal or legal transaction (although it is essentially a legal matter), but that it is also an essential union with Christ. Christians are those who have really and truly experienced death. We died to sin in Jesus Christ, and are now alive to God.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6:5
The reason that our death in Christ is such good news is that, among many other things, it provides victory over sin and release from the law.
For one who has died has been set free from sin. Romans 6:7
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit. Romans 7:6
Question 3. My friend, do you see how important the death of Jesus is for us, as well as our death in Him? Can you see that in Christ, we "died to that which held us captive”? Is this a reality in your life?
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