◄ What Does Romans 6:1 Mean? ►

What could be more glorious than to know that we are forgiven of our sin, redeemed from slavery to sin, and saved from eternal condemnation by God's amazing grace through faith in the redemptive work of Christ. And yet, some would argue that this superabundant grace not only permits the believer to keep on sinning, but encourages a life of sin: "God forbid," is Paul's emphatic response, "how shall we, that are dead to sin, still live in sin?"

At salvation, we were given a new position in Christ. When we were born again, we were made a new person in Christ. When we were saved, we received a new Christ-like nature and were given a new standing in Him. We became a new creation in Christ, having been forgiven of our sin, imputed with His righteousness, and received the indwelling life of Christ within our hearts.

Because of Christ's substitutionary death, our old life is dead to sin and our new life is alive to Him. We are no longer 'positioned' in Satan but 'positioned' in Christ. We have been given a secure, permanent, and eternal position, which is a free gift of God's super-abounding grace to all who trust in Christ as Saviour.

Our position in Christ is perfect for He is perfect, and our life should be a reflection of His perfection, beauty, and grace. Our practice in life should increasingly harmonise with all that Christ is, for we are in union with Him, one with Him, positioned in Him, indwelt by His Spirit, and in fellowship with God.

Having died to sin, we are called to grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him, for we are no longer dead in our sin but alive to Christ: "For we have died to sin." We are no longer estranged from God but reunited with Him, in love: "For we have died to sin."

When Jesus died on the Cross, He became our sin-substitute. Christ died to pay the price for our sin. He paid the penalty of sin so that the punishment that we justly deserve was poured out on Him in our stead. For only the perfect, sinless, Son of Man could qualify to die for our sins.

But Jesus also died as our representative. He died in our place and identified with you and me so intimately that His death became our death; when He died, we died also: "So how can we who died to sin continue to live a sinful life?"

Because of our new position in Christ, by grace through faith in Him we are clothed in Christ's righteousness. Our position in Him is perfect, and our practice should naturally reflect our position. There are likely to be times when we will fail and our practice will not reflect our position, but our earnest desire should be to grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Nothing is more glorious than to know that we are forgiven of our sin, redeemed from slavery to sin, and saved from eternal condemnation by God's amazing and super-abounding grace through faith in the redemptive work of Christ: "God forbid that we who are dead to sin, should continue to live thereby."

Heavenly Father, thank You that Christ was not only my substitute for sin, by taking the punishment that I justly deserve, but that He also died as my representative. He identified so intimately with me that His death became my death and His glorious resurrection-life became my new-life in Christ. Thank You that I am a new creation in Christ and positioned in Him through time and into eternity. I pray that the life I now live may be lived by faith in the Son of God Who loves me and gave Himself for me - so that His life may be lived through me to Your praise and glory. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.