Romans 6:5
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
In the chapter that were in this week, Paul addresses the law. He points out that the law was placed so that no man would sin. Yet, what happened was the law ended up producing more, and more lawbreakers. Then Paul says, "but don't worry because where sin increased Grace increased more!" It's right about then that I imagine the sinners Hooton, and hollering, and dancing around saying,"yeah you know were not condemned." However, Paul doesn't stop there. Paul goes on to say, "don't get too excited, that doesn't mean we should keep on sinning, it's actually opposite, now that we know we are covered by Grace, because of this Grace we should sin no more"
Huh?!?! Now, I'm a bit confused, let me get this right...We are covered by Grace, but we shouldn't sin? We're united together in the likeliness of his death? And we're in the likeliness of his resurrection? Now, maybe you get this, but I had to ask God to really explain this to me. This is what I got....Sherri, when you packed up and moved to your rental property did you, or could you still live in the house that was foreclosed? I said, "Well no, I had to unpack, and start a new life, making my rental property my home." That's what happens when we're baptized. When we went under that water, we left that old house of sin, and rose up into the new house of Grace. Baptism is like the burial of Jesus, and when we rise up from the water it's like the resurrection of Jesus.
My husband Wally had the honor of baptizing my oldest brother several years back. Now, my brother asked Wally to hold him down in the water, so that all of his sins would be washed away. For, he wanted to rise again as a new man covered in the armor of grace, that he might fight against his sins. And as he rose from the water he let out a great Yell of Joy that later on caused others to do the same.
Our old life was nailed to the cross along with Jesus. We are included in Christ's death which conquered sin. We are also included in His resurrection which saved our lives for eternity. As believers, neither death, nor sin has the final word in our lives. We are dead to our sins and alive in Christ. So stop trying to go back to a life that no longer recognizes you for who you are now in Christ!