Welcome back to the Purity course, dear friend.
It is of utmost importance that we remember the gospel and continue to focus on Jesus and what He accomplished for us. The gospel is the key to lasting change in our lives.
Please examine the following passage of Scripture, and think through the questions below it. Please notice specifically how the writer (the apostle Paul) is here applying the gospel to our struggle with sin:
Romans 6:5-14 ESV 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. (6) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (7) For one who has died has been set free from sin. (8) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (9) We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (10) For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
Question 1. According to Romans 6:5, what happened to you at the cross?
Friend, in God’s eyes, the old you died with Jesus. God sees the cross as not only what Jesus did for you but also what you did in Him.
Romans 6:5 says that you died a death like Jesus’ death. That is, in the Person of Jesus Christ God judged you as guilty because of sin, His Law condemned you, and He executed you at the cross.
Then Romans 6:5 says that since God united you with Christ in His death, He will also join you with Him in resurrection. You rose in Him on the third day, having paid for your sin through death and are now exalted to the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3:1).
Not only were you raised from the dead spiritually, but you will be raised physically as well, at the second coming of Jesus, never to die again (as the rest of this passage teaches).
So God views you as being in Christ, united to Him by faith, joined to Him in life, death, and resurrection. He died for you, and you died in Him. He rose for you, and you rose in Him. You were crucified and risen with Christ. That is your new identity!
Question 2. According to Romans 6:6, what happened to you at the cross?