New Life, Now and Forever

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.” Romans 6:8

Romans 6:5-10 lays out the implications of every believer’s union with Christ. Our union is both deep and complete, as life from Christ flows through to us, much like Jesus describes abiding in Him in John 15. This close union is both in Christ’s death and in His resurrection. Our participation in the death of Jesus ensures our participation in His resurrection.

Often times, Christians focus strongly on the crucifixion of our “old self,” but forget that we have also been raised with Christ in new life (Ephesians 4:24). God uses our spiritual death to liberate us from sin…but He uses our spiritual resurrection to grant us new, abundant life. We are set free from sin because our old self has died with Jesus. Now a new, free person lives.

This new life with Christ is both current and eternal. We have been given new life now. This means we are able to live a life of faith…a life that pleases God and points others to Christ. We don’t have to keep sinning. We don’t have to feel hopeless, anxious, afraid or worthless. We have been given the mind of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ lives both in us and through us. This doesn’t mean that our lives are worry-free or easy. But it does mean that whatever we face, we know that there is a future and final resurrection coming where we will finally be completely free from sin.

This future resurrection is promised to all who believe in Jesus Christ. When we remember the eternal life that we have been promised, we can find hope in even the darkest of times. No matter what happens now, one day Jesus will make everything right. This hope inspires us to stand firm against the schemes of the devil, who tries to lure us into the temporary trappings of sin. Because we have been raised with Christ, we have a future inheritance that far outweighs any earthly pleasures.

Yes, we have died with Christ. But let’s also remember that we also live in Him now; and we will live with Him forever one day.

Dear Lord, I want to live the life you died to give me. I want to live in the abundance you offer to your followers. I pray that you would remind me of what is mine as your child and that I would live in all of the freedom, peace, and confidence that life has to offer. In Jesus' name, amen.