We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Romans 6:6
This passage is from a letter from Paul to the church at Rome. He is reminding his readers that all of us have sinned and we need to make ourselves acceptable to God. Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. But God showed how much he loved us by having Jesus die for us even though we were sinful. Christ died so that we would be freed from sin and have the gift of eternal life. This was done so our sinful bodies would not be slaves to sin. Sin doesn't have power over dead people. We know that death no longer has power over Christ. When he died he died for sin once and for all. Now he is alive and he lives only for God. In the same way we must think of ourselves as dead to the power of sin. When we are baptized we die and are buried with Christ so that we can live a new life through him. Jesus gives us new life and we live for God.
Susan Buffaloe
